HIGH POINT, N.C. – It’s a Panthers vs. Panthers showdown in the Millis Center Wednesday when High Point University (6-3) men’s basketball takes on Ferrum College at 7 p.m. HPU is 4-0 in four Division I era meetings against Ferrum.
All tickets for Wednesday’s holiday game are $5. The first 750 fans will receive HPU holiday ornaments, which cookies and hot chocolate will be provided for all fans. Santa will also make an appearance for pictures in the Millis Center prior to the game.
Wednesday’s game vs. Ferrum will be broadcast live on the Big South Network. Live audio featuring Evan Lepler and Stafford Stephenson also will be available via the “live audio” link on highpointpanthers.com. Ford Martin and Sean Hamilton will have the call on BSN.
HPU enters the game having posted six non-conference wins for the first time since 2007-08 when the Panthers captured nine non-conference victories.
High Point has posted a 22-8 (.733) record in the Millis Center since the start of the 2012-13 season. The Panthers have won nine-straight home games dating back to last season. The Panthers will play three of their next four and five of their next seven games inside the Millis Center. HPU is 2-0 at home in 2014-15. The Purple & White are shooting 55.2 percent (58-105) but are just 4-of-25 (.160) from beyond the arc. That means HPU has made 67.5 percent (54-80) of its 2-point field goals at home this season.
Last time out, the Panthers fell at No. 12 Ohio State, 97-43, on Wednesday (Dec. 10) inside Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio. HPU was within 10 (30-20) with four minutes to play in the first half but OSU ran away with the game early in the second stanza.
Redshirt-junior forward John Brown led HPU with19 points (9-15 FG) and grabbed four rebounds in the game. He is averaging 22.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 1.8 spg and shooting 54.5 percent over HPU’s past four games.
Brown leads the Big South in field goal percentage (.570) this season and is ranked No. 25 in the nation in field goals made (65). Brown is also No. 29 nationally in points per game (19.6).
A LOOK AT THE PANTHERS (4-4)
Ferrum is 4-4 on the year and was picked to finish third in the USA South preseason poll. The Panthers are led by the team’s lone senior, forward Jamal Pullen. The Alexandria, Va., native is averaging team highs of 19.6 ppg and 7.0 rpg and is shooting 53.8 percent (56-104) from the field. He notched 30 points in the team’s 76-69 win over Emory & Henry on Dec. 3. Freshman guard Josh Dudley leads Ferrum with 3.4 assists per game while junior center Rashawn Speas is second on the team in scoring with 11.6 ppg and 5.6 rpg.
HISTORY vs. FERRUM
Wednesday’s matchup will mark the fourth between High Point University and Ferrum on the basketball court. HPU has won all four meetings between the schools. The programs first competed on Dec. 9, 2003, with HPU winning 85-64 inside the Millis Center. In the most recent meeting, HPU won, 94-64, in Millis on Nov. 12, 2013. John Brown led High Point with 26 points and nine rebounds in last season’s matchup.
HISTORY vs. USA SOUTH OPPONENTS
High Point University has posted a 17-1 record (.944) in 18 all-time meetings with USA South opponents (Division III). The Panthers most common USA South opponents are Greensboro College (7-1), Ferrum (4-0), Piedmont (2-0) and Covenant (2-0). In the most recent meeting with a USA South school, HPU defeated William Peace, 88-71, on Nov. 25 inside the Millis Center. The Panthers also upended USA South foe Piedmont 89-66 in its lone exhibition game of 2014-15 on Nov. 8.
UP NEXT
HPU wraps up the pre-Christmas portion of its schedule with a trip to Harrisonburg, Va., to take on CAA foe James Madison on Saturday (Dec. 20). Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. inside the JMU Convocation Center.