HPU MBB Cruises To 96-50 Victory Over Methodist

• High Point shot 54.7 percent for the game and made 26 assists on 35 field goals
• HPU tallied a season-best 20 steals, marking the first time since the 2007-08 campaign that HPU made at least 20 steals in a game
• Junior Tarique Thompson posted game highs in points (18) and rebounds (6)

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University men’s basketball team (9-4) returned from its holiday break in style, earning a 96-50 victory over Methodist University (4-6) on Monday night inside the Millis Center.

HPU put together a balanced effort on both sides of the floor, shooting 54.7 percent (35-64) while limiting the Monarchs to 37.8 percent (17-45). The Panthers distributed a season-best 26 assists on the night and held a 54-24 edge in points in the paint.

The Purple & White made a season-high 20 steals, marking the first time HPU has reached the 20-steal plateau since the 2007-08 campaign. High Point also forced 27 Methodist turnovers and held a sizable 68-16 advantage in bench scoring.

“A game like this brings everyone together,” sophomore guard Austin White said. “It gives the guys coming off the bench more of an opportunity to play. We put together a great team effort today and we were able to see what everyone can bring to the table. We have a lot of guys that can contribute and help us during the conference schedule.”

White finished with a career-high 15 points in the game and made all four of his field goal attempts. The South Orange, N.J., native also was 7-of-9 from the free throw line while chipping in four rebounds and a personal best three assists.

White was one of five Panthers in double figures against the Monarchs. Senior Tarique Thompson notched a game-high 18 points (6-11 FG) and grabbed a team-best six rebounds in 18 minutes of work. Thompson is averaging 15.5 points over HPU’s last two contests.

In addition, freshman guard Andre Fox tallied a season-best 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting while fellow freshman Ricky Madison recorded 11 points and five rebounds in 22 minutes.

Redshirt-senior John Brown chipped in 12 points (6-8 FG), four steals, three assists and two blocks in just 15 minutes on the floor. With his third steal, Brown passed Arizona Reid and became HPU’s all-time Div. I leader in the category. Brown now has 155 career steals.

HPU jumped out to a 16-8 and utilized a 19-1 run to build a 35-11 lead at the 7:26 mark of the first half. High Point extended the lead to 26 (48-22) on a lay-in by Madison and entered halftime ahead, 52-24.

The Panthers built the lead to 35 (64-29) on a 3-point play from Fox at the 15:17 mark of the second half and got it to 40 (76-36) with 10:33 to go in the game. HPU took its largest lead at 47 (96-49) with 20 seconds to go in the game.

With the victory, HPU improves to 26-2 in its last 28 home games. The Panthers have won 10-straight inside the Millis Center.

High Point now returns to Big South play with a New Year’s Eve home tilt against Radford (8-6, 1-1). Tip-off inside the Millis Center is scheduled for 7 p.m., with pre-game coverage on the High Point Panthers Radio Network beginning at 6:30 p.m.