Each game this season when Alyssa Ervin and Furman University played, I block off two hours to watch along and in each case I have no idea where the story I will write after will take me.
Saturday afternoon the Paladins headed into Greensboro to face the Spartans. UNC – G currently sits seventh in the league of eight and Furman handled them at home earlier in the season. But you cannot afford to overlook any team that is playing Division 1 Hoops, especially if they are in your league.
Then three things happened inside of the first five minutes of play that quickly had me nervous about the outcome.
#1 – The Senior Day crowd is really into the game and this will challenge the Paladins.
#2 – Lauren Bailey is whistled for a foul and on the play the 5’8 guard crumbles to the floor. Bailey and Alyssa Ervin are the two 3-ball threats for Head Coach Pierre Curtis and the Greenville, Tennessee native contributes start to finish in a number of ways. Thoughts and Prayers for her and her family 👪 during her recovery 🙏.
#3 – The Spartans scored the first 13 points of the game.
At that point you start thinking about how to write ✍ about one that got away.
As fast as they gave up 13 points, they managed to get them back. Now its about overcoming a slow 🐌 start and crusing to an expected victory.
UNC – G regained control again and took a 31 – 24 lead into the halftime break.
Once again, Curtis pushed all the right buttons during his halftime chat as Furman dropped 25 points over the next 10 minutes of action 🎬….Leading 49-44, all that stood between the team and another SoCon victory was 10:00 more
The suddenly red hot Buccaneers handed league leading UT – Chattanooga its second loss in the last stretch on Saturday but for the Paladins to take advantage, they needed to take care of business themselves.
Tied up at 59 – 59, Furman needed a basket 🧺, badly. On a day where Coyle had dominated the lane and Ervin had only made 1 3-pointer……
The terminology used is from the Logo and that might be stretching it but ESPN logged it as a 26 footer. That is JJ or Steph range and it found the bottom of the net !
Just like that it was 62 – 59 and 96 seconds later the Tar Heel sweep was officially in the books 📚!
On a night when you have taken just six shots over 38+ minutes, it takes a little somethin – somethin to want the ball in your hands with the game on the line.
Late Game Ervin Magic indeed has somethin – somethin but heck, those who have watched her for years now, that’s hardly Breaking News.
Thursday night is only four days away !
A.S.P.N on The Hill 