HPU and Longwood MBB Clash on ESPN3 Monday

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University men’s basketball team (13-4, 4-1) returns to the Millis Center for a contest against Longwood (6-13, 2-4) on Monday night. The game will mark the first of at least three ESPN3 appearances for the Panthers this season.

Tip-off inside Millis is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday’s ESPN3 broadcast will feature Mike Hogewood (play-by-play) and Phil Ford (color commentary). “Voice of the Panthers” Evan Lepler and Stafford Stephenson will have the call on the High Point Panthers Radio Network, with pre-game coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m.

The Panthers are 16-3 in their past 19 Big South conference games. HPU has won nine of its past 10 league home games. HPU is off to its best start (13-4) since the 1993-94 season. The team’s 4-1 league start is its best since 2006-07. The Purple & White are 7-1 in their past eight games and have captured four-straight victories.

Last time out, the Panthers won at Gardner-Webb, 84-72, on Wednesday (Jan. 14) inside Paul Porter Arena. The victory was HPU’s first at Gardner-Webb since 2010 and handed the Runnin’ Bulldogs their first home loss of the season (7-1).

Junior guard Adam Weary and redshirt-junior forward John Brown combined for 46 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists and zero turnovers against the Runnin’ Bulldogs.

Weary posted a career-high 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting while chipping in five rebounds and five assists. Brown added 23 points (10-17 FG), five rebounds and four assists vs. GWU.

Weary is averaging 14.6 points per game in league play. He has posted 14.2 ppg in 16 conference games over the past two seasons.

With his second rebound against Gardner-Webb Wednesday, Brown became just the eighth player in Big South history to post at least 1,300 points, 500 rebounds, 100 blocks and 100 steals in a career.

A LOOK AT THE LANCERS (6-13, 2-4)
Longwood was picked to finish 11th in the Big South preseason poll. The Lancers posted a 4-9 record in non-conference play and have posted a 2-4 record to open Big South play. LWU is 0-10 in road games this season. The team is led by redshirt-senior guard Quincy Taylor who is seventh in the Big South with 16.7 ppg. Junior Shaquille Johnson is averaging 13.4 ppg and leads the team with 3.2 assists per game. Junior center Lotanna Nwogbo was averaging 12.9 ppg and a team-high 8.2 rpg, but will be out until March following thumb surgery.

HISTORY vs. LONGWOOD
Monday’s matchup with Longwood will mark the 24th all-time meeting between the Panthers and Lancers. HPU holds a 17-6 (.739) lead in the all-time series. The Panthers have won the last four meetings and 10 of the last 12. Longwood has not won in the Millis Center since Jan. 11, 1993. The teams first met during the 1984-85 season, with HPU winning 66-63 in Farmville. HPU swept both meetings last season, winning 85-59, at LWU on Feb. 22, and 83-75 in High Point on Jan. 15.

DIFFICULT START TO CONFERENCE PLAY
HPU has posted a 4-1 start to conference play despite playing one of the league’s most difficult schedules to begin the campaign. After falling to pre-season No. 1 Coastal Carolina on Dec. 31, HPU earned wins at No. 4 Winthrop and over No. 5 Charleston Southern. The Panthers also took down Gardner-Webb which had already defeated Clemson and Purdue in 2014-15.

UP NEXT
HPU hits the road to play at Radford on Thursday (Jan. 22). The game will tip at 7 p.m., with pre-game coverage on the High Point Panthers Radio Network beginning at 6:30 p.m.