High Point MBB Falls at Winthrop, 80-63

• The Panthers fell for the first time in conference play this season
• Junior Jahaad Proctor led all scorers with 22
• HPU hosts USC Upstate on Wednesday night

ROCK HILL, S.C. — The High Point University men’s basketball team dropped its first conference game of the year, 80-63, at Winthrop Saturday afternoon (Jan. 12) at the Winthrop Coliseum.

Trailing 39-32 at halftime, the Panthers (9-8, 2-1 Big South) cut the Winthrop (11-5, 3-0) lead to one at 42-41 behind a 9-3 run, but the Eagles responded with 9-2 run to push the lead back to eight and the Panthers would not get closer than six the rest of the contest.

Winthrop shot 46.9 percent (30-64) and held the Panthers to 34.9 percent shooting (22-63). The Eagles also hit 11 3-point field goals compared to High Point’s three. The Panthers ended the game hitting only three of 25 from behind the arc. Winthrop held a small advantage on the boards, 40-39. It was the first time in 13 games that High Point did not out-rebound its opponent.

“We didn’t really shoot the ball well and a lot of that had to do with Winthrop and their ability to contest shots and force us to take quick shots, and we need to address that,” HPU head coach Tubby Smith said. “I thought that one stretch in the second half where we got back in the game and they went on a run and made three straight 3-pointers, that took the wind out of our sails and we never recovered.”

Junior Jahaad Proctor led all scorers with 22 points, while senior Ricky Madison recorded his second straight double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

In the first half, the Panthers held an 18-15 lead with 11:18 remaining, but the Eagles went on a 10-2 run to take a 25-20 advantage. Winthrop’s largest advantage of the half was nine at 34-25 and the Eagles took a 39-32 lead into the break.

The Eagles had four players in double figures, led by Nych Smith with 19 and Bjorn Broman with 18.

Up next, the Panthers host USC Upstate on Wednesday (Jan. 16). Tip-off at the Millis Center is set for 7 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.