RADFORD, Va. — Redshirt-sophomore John Brown scored a career-high 34 points and set the program record, going 14-for-14 from the free throw line, as the High Point University men’s basketball team beat Radford, 72-65, on Saturday at the Dedmon Center in Radford, Va. Brown also had 12 rebounds, a career-high six assists and three blocks.
“I thought we played a good first half and, in the second half when they got a little lead on us, our guys responded,” said HPU head coach Scott Cherry. “I think John Brown is the Big South Player of the Year and a lot of guys stepped up and made plays today.”
High Point improved to 11-13 overall and 7-4 in Big South play, passing Radford in the North Division standings. Radford fell to 17-10 overall and 7-5 in the league. It was HPU’s first win over Radford at the Dedmon Center since the 2007-08 season.
Brown shot 10-for-15 from the floor and was the first player to score over 30 points since Nick Barbour scored 44 against Campbell on Feb. 22, 2012. Brown’s previous career high in scoring was 28 points.
“I know these guys are good so I was just trying to play my best,” said Brown. “I had to step up with Adam Weary out. He’s a big part of our team and we had a great team effort tonight.”
Junior guard Devante Wallace scored 18 points, went 6-for-6 from the free throw line and hauled in six rebounds. As a team, High Point set a Div. I-era single-game record for free-throw percentage at 95.5 (21-for-22). The previous record was 95.2 percent (20-for-21) against St. Andrews on Nov. 21, 2013.
Radford was led by Javonte Green, who scored 18 points with 13 rebounds and four steals. Junior guard R.J. Price scored 11 points with two assists.
High Point’s first two baskets were dunks by Brown, but the Panthers fell behind on a 7-0 Radford run that included a three-point play by Price. The Highlanders grew their lead to eight points twice before HPU pulled back within one (21-20) on a Haiishen McIntyre layup. Radford led 34-30 at halftime.
HPU scored the first four points of the second half to tie it at 34-34. On the next Radford possession, Green inadvertently tipped a loose ball into the basket to give the Highlanders the lead back. High Point took its first lead since early in the game when Wallace hit a three-pointer from the right side to make it 39-38, but six minutes later it was a 52-47 lead for Radford.
Down five, Brown hit four free throws in a row and Wallace hit a three-pointer to make it 54-52 in favor of HPU. Radford’s Green hit a layup on the other end, but Brown scored the next four points and the Panthers led the rest of the way. Brown’s windmill dunk in the last second made it a 72-65 final.
The Panthers continue their stretch of three games in five days on Monday when they host Charleston Southern at the Millis Center. It’s the teams’ first meeting of the season. The game tips off at 7 p.m.