Lyons hits 3s in 2OT; Furman beats Western Carolina 90-88

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Jordan Lyons made a pair of 3-pointers in double overtime and finished with 29 points to lead Furman to a 90-88 victory over Western Carolina on Saturday in the Southern Conference opener for both schools.

Lyons opened the second extra period with back-to-back 3s, but Western Carolina answered with a pair of layups from Carlos Dotson and another from Marc Gosselin, and the game was tied at 82. The Paladins then pulled away with a 7-0 run for an 89-82 lead with 33 seconds left. The Catamounts cut the deficit to 89-86 with nine seconds left but Alex Hunter's free throw stretched the lead back to four with eight seconds to play.

Lyons made six shots from long range, including one with 22 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime. Matt Rafferty added 21 points for Furman (8-0, 1-0).

Dotson scored 27 points to lead Western Carolina (2-7, 0-1). Kameron Gibson added 17 points and Gosselin had 16. Gibson's 3 tied it 76-76 late in the first OT.