HPU MBB Falls to UMBC, 68-59, in Second Game of Bimini Jam

• The Panthers dropped the second game of the Bimini Jam, 68-59, against UMBC
• Freshman Curtis Holland III made his first start in the Purple & White and scored 18 points
• Junior Jahaad Proctor led all scorers with 20 points

BIMINI, Bahamas — The High Point University men’s basketball team dropped the second game of the Bimini Jam, 68-59, to UMBC Saturday night (Nov. 17) at Gateway Christian Academy in Bimini, Bahamas.

The Retrievers (4-1) shot 46.8 percent (22-47) to the Panthers’ 42.6 percent (20-47). HPU (1-3) turned the ball over 17 times to UMBC’s nine.

Making his first start, freshman Curtis Holland III was 4-4 from the field in the first half, including three 3-pointers. Holland ended the contest with a season-high 18 points, while junior Jahaad Proctor led all scorers with 20 points, 17 in the second half.

“We turned the ball over too many times tonight, with nine in the first half and we almost matched that in the second half,” HPU head coach Tubby Smith said. “Those are the things we are struggling with, but I thought we had a gallant effort. Our guys don’t quit and we just have to keep getting better.”

In the second half, UMBC scored the first three buckets and opened up the frame on a 13-3 run to push the lead to 40-28. The Retrievers’ largest lead was 19 at 57-38 with 6:10 remaining when HPU went on an 11-2 run to cut the lead to 10 at 59-49 with 4:26 remaining. The closest the Panthers would come was eight at 67-59 when Holland hit a three with 13.2 seconds left.

The game started with back-to-back 3-point field goals from Holland. UMBC came back and led by six at 20-14 with 7:50 remaining in the half. The Panthers did not score the last four minutes of the first half as the Retrievers took a 27-25 lead going into the break.

UMBC had four players in double figures, led by Jose Placer with 13.

Junior Brandonn Kamga missed the game due to an upper-body injury and is day-to-day.

The Panthers will conclude the Bimini Jam on Monday (Nov. 19) when it takes on Air Force at 6 p.m.