Rafferty, Lyons help Furman beat UNC Asheville 65-51

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Matt Rafferty had 20 points, 11 rebounds and five assists and Jordan Lyons scored 18 points, including four 3-pointers, to help Furman beat UNC Asheville 65-51 on Sunday.

Furman (7-0) is off to the best start in program history, including wins over Loyola-Chicago — a 2018 Final Four team — and then-No. 8 Villanova. The Paladins have won 14 of their last 15 games dating to last season.

Lyons scored seven points and Rafferty added six during a 20-6 run over the final nine-plus minutes of the first half that gave Furman a 38-22 lead at the break. Coty Jude and Cress Worthy hit back-to-back 3s to open the second half and trim the deficit to 10 points but the Bulldogs got no closer. Lyons answered with a 3-pointer and a layup before Noah Gurley converted a 3-point play to make it 46-28 and a layup by Tre Clark pushed the lead to 20 with 13 minutes to go.

Tajion Jones led UNC Asheville (1-5) with 14 points and Worthy scored 10. The Bulldogs, who won 21 games before a first-round loss in the NIT last season, have lost five in a row following a season-opening win over NAIA St. Andrews.