Southern Conference: Season 2025-26
Southern Conference 2025-26
Tournament Winner: Furman University
Southern Conference Final: Furman University - East Tennessee State University 76-61 N.Dakota (Paul Sather): Eli King 9, Garrett Anderson 2, Greyson Uelmen 24, Zach Kraft 19, Josh Jones 0, Reggie Thomas 5, George Natsvlishvili 1, Anthony Smith 2, Karson Ouse 0, Matthew Bothun 0, Marley Curtis 0, Wylee Delorme 0, Anthony Doppler 0, Ryan Erikson 0 Standings 2025-26
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- qualified to the play-offs Stats Leaders 2025-26
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 Samford Southern Conference Final  Furman University - Southern Conference Champions 2025-26
Arrived: Asa Thomas (Clemson University)
Left: Kip Owens (coach assistant Samford University), Khyle Marshall (coach assistant Shinshu Brave Warriors Nagano), Chad Warner (coach assistant University of Minnesota)
Average Height: 198.6 cm (6'6.2'')
Average Age: 23.0
 No. 6 Furman wins the SoCon Tournament title-Mar 10, 2026
Paladins set to make their second trip to the Big Dance in four seasons The No. 5 seed Furman Paladins earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament on Monday night by beating regular-season champion ETSU, 76-61, in the title game of the Ingles Southern Conference Men's Basketball Championship at Harrah's Cherokee Center. The Paladins, who lost both regular season games to the Mocs, controlled Monday's game for much of the night, shooting 50.9 percent from the field and outrebounding ETSU, 36-24. Forward Cooper Bowser (6'11''-F) made 9-of-12 field-goal attempts and finished with a game-high of 21 points to lead the Paladins. He also led both teams in rebounds with 11. Furman reserve guard Tom House added 13 points and guard Alex Wilkins (6'5''-G), who was voted the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, contributed 12 points for Furman, which improved to 22-12 in winning the SoCon championship for the second time in the last four years under coach Bob Richey. ETSU guard Brian Taylor II (6'4''-G) and forward Blake Barkley (6'8''-F) scored 16 and 14 points, respectively, for ETSU (23-11). Furman shot 60 percent from the field in the opening half and held a 42-35 lead. Bowser dominated inside, making all six of his field-goal attempts as he scored 14 points before the break. Furman eventually built a 64-48 lead before ETSU went on an 11-4 run to pull within 68-59 with 3:58 remaining. The Paladins stopped the bleeding and went on to cruise to the championship victory. Things to know - Going back to the semifinals, Bowser made 14 straight field goals before a miss in the second half on Monday. He finished the tournament making 21-of-30 attempts for 70 percent. - Furman made 12-of-15 free throws for a three-game total of 51-of-61 for 83.6 percent. - After making a total of 19 3-pointers in its first two games, the Bucs connected on just 3-of-16 attempts (18.8 percent) against Furman. The Paladins made 10-of-26 (38.5 percent) in Monday night's game. Final: ETSU - Furman 61-76 Semis: ETSU - Western Carolina 69-67 Furman - UNCG 81-75 Courtesy of soconsports.com  All-SoCon Awards 2026-Mar 10, 2026
 Jadin Booth, guard from the Samford University, was named the Player of the Year at the NCAA Division I.
He received multiple other awards, was voted the Newcomer of the Year, and was selected to the First Team and Second Team.
Booth averaged over 21 points and almost 4 rebounds per game in the league.
He has totalled 16 games of 20 or more points on the year and recorded 30 or more points in 5 games.
Booth's 40 points against the UNCG were the most he scored in the 25 26 season.
He played in the final of the Bevo Francis Award Top 25 in 2025.
Alex Wilkins, guard from the Furman University, was selected as the All-Tournament MVP of NCAA Division I.
He collected multiple other honors, was chosen to the Second Team and First Team.
Wilkins registered 17 points and 5 assists per game that season in the league.
He has totalled 12 games of 20 or more points on the year and had 30 or more points in 2 games.
Wilkins' 34 points against the UNCG were the most he scored in the 25 26 season.
Baraka Okojie, Canadian guard from the Mercer University, was named to the First Team at the NCAA Division I.
He recorded almost 20 points and over 5 assists per game over the season in the league.
Okojie has totalled 14 games of 20 or more points and logged double-doubles in 3 games on the year.
His 29 points against Elon were the most he scored in the 25 26 season.
Among many awards Okojie's team won the AAC Tournament in 2025.
He was selected to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team in 2024.
Justin Neely, forward from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, earned a spot in the First Team of NCAA Division I.
He was also voted to the First Team.
Neely's consistent performance as a playmaker earned him the second ranked in rebounds per game, showcasing average of over 11.
He also averaged over 17 points per game in the league.
Neely has totalled 13 games of 20 or more points and registered double-doubles in 19 games on the year.
His 35 points against the Western Carolina University were the most he scored in the 25 26 season.
Among many awards he was selected as the All-AEC Sixth Player of the Year in 2025.
He was also selected to the AEC All-Rookie Team back in 2022.
Dylan Faulkner, forward from the Samford University, was selected to the First Team at the NCAA Division I.
He was also chosen to the Defensive Team.
Faulkner notched over 17 points and almost 9 rebounds per game that season in the league.
He has totalled 9 games of 20 or more points and recorded double-doubles in 12 games on the year.
Faulkner's 27 points against the Mercer were the most he scored in the 25 26 season.
Among many awards Faulkner's team won the A-Sun Tournament in 2025.
He was selected to the GACA Georgia Class 5A North First Team back in 2021.
Kahmare Holmes, guard from the Wofford College, was named to the First Team of NCAA Division I.
He registered almost 20 points and 6 rebounds per game over the season in the league.
Holmes has totalled 15 games of 20 or more points on the year and had 30 or more points in 2 games.
His 36 points against the Samford were the most he scored in the 25 26 season.
Brian Taylor II, guard from the East Tennessee State University, earned a spot in the Second Team at the NCAA Division I.
He was also voted to the First Team.
Taylor II averaged almost 15 points and over 4 rebounds per game in the league.
His 28 points against the Samford were the most he scored in the 25 26 season.
He was selected to the All-OVC Second Team in 2025.
Blake Barkley, forward from the East Tennessee State University, was selected to the Third Team of NCAA Division I.
He was also chosen to the First Team.
Barkley recorded over 14 points and 6 rebounds per game that season in the league.
He has totalled 7 games of 20 or more points and logged double-doubles in 4 games on the year.
Barkley's 26 points against the Samford were the most he scored in the 25 26 season.
Cooper Bowser, forward from the Furman University, was named to the First Team at the NCAA Division I.
He registered almost 14 points and 6 rebounds per game over the season in the league.
Bowser has totalled 2 games of 20 or more points on the year.
His 24 points against the Bob Jones were the most he scored in the 25 26 season.
Among many awards he was selected to the SoCon All-Defensive Team in 2025.
He was also selected to the SoCon All-Tournament Second Team in 2025.
All-Tournament MVP:  Alex Wilkins (6'5''-G) of FurmanPlayer of the Year: Jadin Booth (6'2''-G-2002) of SamfordCo-Defensive Player of the Year: Cam Morris III (6'8''-F) of ETSUCo-Defensive Player of the Year:  Armani Mighty (6'10''-C) of MercerNewcomer of the Year: Jadin Booth (6'2''-G-2002) of SamfordSixth Man of the Year: Jaylen Smith (5'11''-PG) of ETSUCoach of the Year: Brooks Savage of ETSU All-SoCon First Team 2026  Okojie  Neely Booth  Faulkner  Holmes Baraka Okojie (6'3''-G) of Mercer Justin Neely (6'6''-F) of UNCG Jadin Booth (6'2''-G-2002) of Samford Dylan Faulkner (6'9''-F) of Samford Kahmare Holmes (6'3''-G) of WoffordAll-SoCon Second Team 2026  Morris III  Taylor II  Wilkins  Mighty  Machowski Cam Morris III (6'8''-F) of ETSU Brian Taylor II (6'4''-G) of ETSU Alex Wilkins (6'5''-G) of Furman Armani Mighty (6'10''-C) of Mercer Nils Machowski (6'3''-G-2004) of WoffordAll-SoCon Third Team 2026  Barkley  Frison  Johnson  Stansberry  Vasko Blake Barkley (6'8''-F) of ETSU Jordan Frison (6'0''-PG) of Chattanooga TJ Johnson (6'7''-F) of VMI Cord Stansberry (6'4''-G) of WCU Cayden Vasko (6'6''-G-2004) of WoffordSoCon All-Defensive Team 2026 Morris III  Strothers  Vander Wal Mighty Faulkner Cam Morris III (6'8''-F) of ETSU Allen Strothers (6'1''-G) of ETSU Ben Vander Wal (6'6''-F) of Furman Armani Mighty (6'10''-C) of Mercer Dylan Faulkner (6'9''-F) of SamfordSoCon All-Tournament First Team 2026 Barkley Taylor II  Bowser Wilkins Neely Blake Barkley (6'8''-F) of ETSU Brian Taylor II (6'4''-G) of ETSU Cooper Bowser (6'11''-F) of Furman Alex Wilkins (6'5''-G) of Furman Justin Neely (6'6''-F) of UNCGSoCon All-Tournament Second Team 2026  Adebisi  Smith  House  Younger Booth  Sola Adebisi (6'7''-F-2002) of Citadel Jaylen Smith (5'11''-PG) of ETSU Tom House (6'7''-G-2003) of Furman KJ Younger (6'4''-G) of UNCG Jadin Booth (6'2''-G-2002) of Samford | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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