FRIDAY SPORTS: Area teams hit hardwood; Daniel to play for state title; Beasley on Hendricks short list

The Furman men’s basketball team goes in search of its first road win on Saturday when it travels to Clinton to face the Presbyterian Blue Hose. Tip-off at the Templeton Center is set for 7:45 p.m. Coverage on 96.3 WGOG will begin at the conclusion of Furman’s football game in Fargo, ND. The Paladins enter Saturday’s game at 3-4 after dropping a 79-48 decision at Atlantic 10 Conference member Fordham on Wednesday evening in New York.

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Clemson will head to Arkansas for a 2:00 PM tip off Saturday against the Razorbacks Saturay at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville. It’s the Tigers first-ever trip to Arkansas.

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South Carolina returns from a near two-week break from games when it travels to No. 9/11 Oklahoma State on Friday as part of ESPN’s Big 12/SEC Challenge. The meeting marks just the second all-time between the two schools and the first since the 1975-76 season. The contest will be televised on ESPNU with tip time set for 9:30 p.m. ET.

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The Furman Paladin football team heads to Fargo, North Dakota this Saturday to take on FCS top-ranked North Dakota State in playoff action. Coverage of that game begins at 2:30 PM on 96.3 WGOG, with kick-off at 3:30 PM.

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The Daniel Lions and Myrtle Beach Seahawks face off Saturday in the Class 3A State Championship game at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia. Kick off is set for 3:00 PM.

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Clemson defensive end Vick Beasley has been named a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award, the honor given each year to the top defensive end in college football. Joining Beasley on the list of six finalist are Shilique Calhoun of Michigan State, Brad Daly of Montana State, Jackson Jeffcoat of Texas, Michael Sam of Missouri and Marcus Smith of Louisville.

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Wide receiver Tyshun Samuel of Chapman Thursday announced a commitment to South Carolina. The Shrine Bowl selection also considered North Carolina and Vanderbilt.

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The annual South Carolina Football Coaches Association Palmetto Champions Awards Banquet was held Thursday night in Columbia with four statewide winners announced. The back of the year is Northwestern quarterback Mason Rudolph, a commitment to Oklahoma State. The lineman of the year is Florida bound Nolan Kelleher of Wando. The specialist of the year is placekicker Alex Spence of West Florence, who is committed to Clemson. Coach of the year is Miles Aldridge of Spring Valley.

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A Florida prosector said Thursday that Florida State quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate Jameis Winston won’t be charged with sexually assaulting a woman who accused him of raping her a year ago. State Attorney Willie Meggs said the woman’s memory lapses of the events were problematic and there wasn’t enough evidence to get a conviction. The woman told police she had been drinking at a bar with friends before the alleged assault took place at an off-campus apartment.

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The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Houston Texans 27-20 Thursday night in North Florida. Jaguars quarterback Chad Henne was 12 of 27 for 117 yard with two touchdowns, while Houston QB Matt Schaub went 17 of 29 for 198 yards with one TD.