Wilson, Merriweather lift East Tennessee over Furman 66-59

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (AP) Lester Wilson scored 20 points and A.J. Merriweather added a career-high 18 to lead East Tennessee State to a 66-59 win over Furman on Saturday.

Rashawn Rembert added 14 points and Desonta Bradford had 12 for the Buccaneers (15-10, 8-7 Southern Conference), who shot 49 percent but allowed Furman to stay in the game by making only 13 of 23 free throws in the second half.

Devin Sibley had a career-high 29 points. Kris Acox matched his career high with 14 to go with a career-high 17 rebounds for the Paladins (7-18, 4-10), who lost their fifth straight. Stephen Croone, Furman's leading scorer at 17.5 points, made just 1 of 10 field goals and finished with seven points. He had 24 when the Paladins won the first meeting 59-55.

East Tennessee was up by as many as 14 in the second half before Furman closed the gap to three with 2:15 left. Six straight free throws by three different players for East Tennessee clinched it.