• Redshirt-senior John Brown led the Panthers with 19 points (8-12 FG), seven rebounds, five blocks, three steals and three assists
• HPU shot 62 percent (31-50) and dished out 25 assists in the game
• The Panthers improved to 28-2 in their last 30 home games and have now won 12-straight inside the Millis Center
HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University men’s basketball team (12-4, 5-0) dished out 25 assists and shot 62 percent during an 82-66 victory over Presbyterian College (7-9, 2-3) on Saturday afternoon inside the Millis Center.
The Panthers made 31-of-50 field goal attempts (.620) and shot a season-best 62.5 percent (10-16) from 3-point territory. HPU’s 25 assists were the most by the Panthers against a Div. I opponent since a 26-assist effort at Longwood on Feb. 22, 2014.
With the victory, HPU remained unbeaten in conference play and improved to 28-2 (.933) in its last 30 home games. HPU has won 12 straight inside the Millis Center.
“Our guys did a great job of not being rusty after a week layoff,” head coach Scott Cherry said. “To score 82 points against a team that plays 2-3 zone every possession is pretty impressive. We have an unselfish team that finds the open man. Defensively, we strung some stops together in the second half and were able to stretch the lead out.”
Redshirt-senior John Brown led the Panthers with 19 points (8-12 FG) to go along with seven rebounds, five blocks, three assists and three steals in a strong all-around effort for the redshirt-senior. He is now just 17 points away from 2,000 for his career.
Junior Anthony Lindauer chipped in 13 points (5-9 FG) four rebounds and four assists, while senior Lorenzo Cugini tallied 12 points. Cugini, who entered the game leading the nation in 3-point field goal percentage, made 4-of-5 attempts from deep in another sizzling performance by the Stow, Ohio, product.
Senior guard Adam Weary tallied six assists to go along with 11 points (5-6 FG), and senior Haiishen McIntyre matched him with six assists while adding seven points (3-3 FG).
HPU forced 17 Presbyterian turnovers and held a 21-13 edge in points off turnovers for the game. The Panthers also won the bench scoring battle, 20-15.
High Point led 14-12 at the 13:58 mark of the first half and extended its lead to eight (22-14) on a 3-pointer from freshman Andre Fox with 10:02 to play in the opening period.
The Blue Hose cut the lead to two (27-25) at the 8:20 mark, but HPU scored 13 of the next 18 points to build the edge back to eight (38-30) at the 4:14 mark. The Panthers entered the half with a 46-35 lead.
PC got within 11 (56-45) with 13:08 to go, but would not move any closer, as HPU used a 14-4 run to open up a 22-point edge (78-56) with 5:08 remaining.
With 2:22 to play, redshirt-junior Miles Bowman Jr. entered the game for his first minutes in an HPU uniform after missing the past two years with injuries. Bowman received a roar of approval from the crowd.
“That was probably one of the better moments of my coaching career because of everything he’s been through,” head coach Scott Cherry said. “To see him get out there and do the thing he loves to do is pretty special. He’s a great person, his teammates love him and he loves being a part of this team.”
High Point now heads to Rock Hill, S.C., for a primetime matchup with Winthrop (9-6, 2-3) on Thursday in a game that will air nationally on ESPNU. Tip-off between the Panthers and Eagles is set for 7 p.m.