HPU and Campbell MBB Battle In Millis Saturday

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University men’s basketball team (11-4, 2-1) plays its second home game in three days Saturday when it welcomes Campbell (7-8, 1-1) to the Millis Center.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. against the Camels. Saturday’s game vs. Campbell will air live on the Big South Network. Steven Wetherill will handle play-by-play duties, while Sean Hamilton will provide color commentary. The game also will be broadcast on the High Point Panthers Radio Network featuring Kevin Burke and Stafford Stephenson. Pre-game radio coverage begins at 6:30 p.m.

HPU is 11-4 for the first time since 1995-96. The Panthers have not started 12-4 since the 1993-94 season.

Last time out, HPU earned its fifth win in the last six games after dispatching Charleston Southern, 72-61, on Thursday inside the Millis Center.

The Panthers held a +13 edge against Charleston Southern (38-25) on the glass. HPU is 9-0 when it out-rebounds the opposition, but just 2-4 when its opponent holds the edge in rebounding this season. The Panthers average a +3.7 rebounding margin in wins this season, but are -11.0 in losses.

Redshirt-junior John Brown poured in 23 points, eight rebounds (six offensive) and two blocks, while senior guard Devante Wallace matched him with 23 points while grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds. It marked Wallace’s third double-double of his career and first this season. The Baltimore, Md., native also hit 5-of-9 3-point attempts, including four of his first five.

Wallace is averaging 11.5 rebounds over HPU’s last two games, while Brown is averaging 28.0 points and 8.0 rebounds over that span. It marked the first time HPU has had two 20-point scorers in a game since Wallace and Brown accomplished the feat on Jan. 25, 2014 vs. UNC Asheville.

Brown leads the Big South and is ranked 27th nationally in scoring (19.5 ppg). He also is 10th in the country in field goals made (111), as well as 35th nationally and third in the Big South in field goal percentage (.566). Brown is fifth in the league in both blocks (1.4 bpg) and offensive rebounds (2.93/game).

Junior Adam Weary ranks t-3rd in the Big South in conference play with a .889 (16-18) free throw percentage. He’s made 25 of his last 27 (.926) attempts. Weary made all eight of his free throw attempts in the two overtime sessions to help HPU win at Winthrop on Jan. 3.

HPU IN THE BIG SOUTH/NATIONAL RANKINGS
The Panthers lead the Big South in turnover margin (+2.5) and are second in assist/turnover ratio (1.28). HPU also ranks No. 47 nationally in assist/turnover ratio and No. 49 in turnover margin. The Panthers check in at No. 43 in the nation in field goal percentage (.475) and are No. 39 in scoring offense (75.0 ppg).

A LOOK AT THE CAMELS (7-8, 1-1)
Campbell was picked to finish eighth on out 11 teams in the Big South preseason poll. The Camels posted a 6-7 non-conference record and have split their first two Big South games, winning at home vs. Liberty (53-46) and falling at Charleston Southern (74-71). The Camels are led by junior forward D.J. Mason, who ranks first on the team in scoring (12.4 ppg), rebounding (5.6) and blocks (0.9 bpg). Sophomore guard Quinton Ray leads the team in assists (1.9 apg), while redshirt-senior guard Andrew Ryan is averaging a team-best 15.5 ppg in conference play.

HISTORY vs. CAMPBELL
Saturday’s matchup with Campbell will mark the 49th all-time meeting between the Panthers and Camels. HPU holds a 26-22 (.542) advantage in the all-time series. The Panthers have won four of the last five meetings. Campbell has not won at the Millis Center in 40 years (74-73 win on Dec. 1, 1975). The teams first met during the 1954-55 season, with Campbell grabbing a 71-56 win in High Point. In the most recent meeting, HPU clinched the Big South regular season title with a 56-53 win on Feb. 28, 2014 inside the Millis Center.

UP NEXT
HPU hits the road to take on Gardner-Webb on Wednesday, January 14 in Boiling Springs, N.C. The game will air live on the Big South Network, with pre-game coverage on the High Point Panthers Radio Network beginning at 6:30 p.m.