HPU Men’s Basketball Releases Non-Conference Schedule

HIGH POINT, N.C. — The High Point University men’s basketball team has released its 2017-18 non-conference schedule, which includes marquee road contests at Tennessee and Pittsburgh.

The Panthers will play five games inside the Millis Center during the non-conference portion of the season, with five more on the road and one neutral-site game.

“Our biggest thing is to try and create balance every year, but especially this year with six new guys that will see playing time,” HPU men’s basketball head coach Scott Cherry said. “We have a good blend of competitive games with two CAA schools, three Southern Conference schools and a school each from the ACC, the SEC and Conference USA.”

The Panthers will open with a home exhibition game against Averett on Nov. 5 at 2 p.m. before drawing the curtain on the regular season at home against William & Mary on Nov. 10 at 8 p.m.

HPU will travel to SEC foe Tennessee for a Tuesday night contest at 7 p.m. on Nov. 14 before hosting The Citadel (Nov. 18 – 7 p.m.) and Methodist (Nov. 21 – 8 p.m.) in back-to-back home games.

Following Thanksgiving, the Purple & White will travel to Charlotte on Nov. 24 and Pitt on Nov. 28 before welcoming Johnson & Wales on Dec. 1 at 7 p.m.

High Point will play at College of Charleston on Dec. 4 before hosting Toccoa Falls in a Sunday matinee on Dec. 10 at 2 p.m.

The Panthers will travel to the western part of the state to face off against Wofford as part of the Mountain Invitational at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Dec. 17. HPU will then play at Western Carolina on Dec. 19 to close out the non-conference portion of the season.

“We try to balance our games home and away by not killing ourselves with four of five in a row on the road, while also hosting opponents that people in our area will recognize and going to places that are easily drivable,” Cherry said. “We were also able to work with Coach McDevitt of UNC Asheville to plan the Mountain Invitational, where we will play Wofford and then they will host Western Carolina. It was a good neutral-site game to help balance out the schedule.”

The Panthers return eight players from last year’s team that went 15-16 (9-9 in conference play) and welcome three transfers that sat out last year due to NCAA transfer rules, as well as three freshmen.

The Big South conference portion of the schedule will be announced at a later date.

2017-18 High Point University Non-Conference Schedule

DATE      EVENT                                   LOCATION           TIME
Nov. 5    Averett (Exhibition)                    High Point, N.C.   2:00 p.m.
Nov. 10   William & Mary                          High Point, N.C.   8:00 p.m.
Nov. 14   at Tennessee                            Knoxville, Tenn.   7:00 p.m.
Nov. 18   The Citadel                             High Point, N.C.   7:00 p.m.
Nov. 21   Methodist                               High Point, N.C.   8:00 p.m.
Nov. 24   at Charlotte                            Charlotte, N.C.    7:00 p.m.
Nov. 28   at Pittsburgh                           Pittsburgh, Pa.    7:00 p.m.
Dec. 1    Johnson & Wales                         High Point, N.C.   7:00 p.m.
Dec. 4    at College of Charleston                Charleston, S.C.   7:00 p.m.
Dec. 10   Toccoa Falls                            High Point, N.C.   2:00 p.m.
Dec. 17   vs. Wofford (Mountain Invitational)     Asheville, N.C.    2:00 p.m.
Dec. 19   at Western Carolina                     Cullowhee, N.C.    7:00 p.m.