High Point MBB Drops Heartbreaker to Eastern Kentucky, 70-69

• HPU fell on a last-second 3-point field goal to Eastern Kentucky, 70-69, on Saturday
• Junior Brandonn Kamga scored a career-high 27 points
• The Panthers return to action Tuesday at Valparaiso

HIGH POINT, N.C. — The High Point University men’s basketball team fell to Eastern Kentucky, 70-69, on a last-second 3-point field goal Saturday afternoon (Dec. 1) at the Millis Center.

Nick Mayo, who led all scorers with 30 points, hit a 3-point shot at the buzzer to give the Colonels (4-4) the win over the Panthers (3-5). EKU had cut the lead to one on a three by Dujanta Weaver at 68-67 with 42 seconds left. Junior Brandon Kamga hit a free throw with nine seconds left to give HPU a two-point lead that set up the final sequence.

“I thought our kids fought pretty hard and we just lost the lead there and obviously Eastern Kentucky did a good job down the stretch,” HPU head coach Tubby Smith said. “Our biggest problem is taking care of the basketball and then they made a great shot to beat us at the end. Nick Mayo is an excellent player and I thought Coach Hamilton and his staff had his team ready to play.”

The Panthers shot 43.1 percent from the field (22-51), while EKU shot 38.2 percent (26-68). High Point held an advantage on the boards, 41-37, but EKU led in bench scoring, 28-5, and points off turnovers, 23-9.

Kamga recorded a career-high 27 points, while junior Jahaad Proctor scored 24, his fifth-consecutive game with 20 or more points. Senior Ricky Madison led in rebounds with eight.

In the first half, the Colonels cut the Panther lead to two at 18-16, but High Point went on a 24-5 run over the next 6:02 to take a 42-19 lead. Kamga had 12 points during the run, while Proctor added 10. EKU closed the half on a 12-0 run to cut the lead to 42-31 at the break.

Up next, the Panthers travel to Valparaiso, Ind., to take on Valparaiso on Tuesday (Dec. 4) at 8 p.m. Eastern. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.