HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University men’s basketball team (0-1) makes its 2015-16 home debut Sunday when the Panthers battle North Carolina Wesleyan inside the Millis Center.
Tip-off between the Panthers and Battling Bishops is set for 4 p.m. Sunday’s game will be streamed live on the Big South Network. Ameer Tyree (play-by-play) and Sean Hamilton (color) will anchor the coverage. In addition, the game will air live on the High Point Panthers Radio Network, with Brian Boesch (play-by-play) and Stafford Stephenson (color) providing analysis. Pre-game coverage begins at 3:30 p.m. (EST).
PAW PRINTS
• High Point has posted a 22-7 (.814) record in the Millis Center since the start of the 2013-14 season. The Panthers have won 19 of their past 21 home games and have not lost a non-conference home game since a setback to James Madison on Dec. 14, 2014.
• Last time out, HPU opened the season against Tubby Smith (’73) and Texas Tech on Friday. The Purple & White fell to the Red Raiders, 77-73, in a hard-fought battle in Lubbock.
• With the setback, HPU falls to 65-24 all-time in season openers (5-2 under Scott Cherry).
• Down 62-51 with 7:20 to go, HPU stormed back with a 17-3 run to take a 68-65 lead with 3:02 left. But Texas Tech responded with a 7-0 run and hit its free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.
• Lorenzo Cugini knocked down 5-of-7 3-point attempts and led HPU with 15 points. Anthony Lindauer scored all 14 of his points in the second half (3-5 3pt FG), while John Brown (13) and Adam Weary (13) also reached double figures.
A LOOK AT THE BATTLING BISHOPS (0-0, 0-0 USA SOUTH)
The Battling Bishops were picked to finish second in the 2015-16 USA South preseason poll. North Carolina Wesleyan returns its four leading scorers from 2014-15 (Eric Dortch-Jones 18.5 ppg, D.J. Weaver 12.3 ppg, Brandon Brown 10.4 ppg, Adrian Moore 8.1 ppg). Last season, the Battling Bishops went 13-12 overall and finished at 7-7 in the USA South. John Thompson is now beginning his 21st season as head coach of the team.
HISTORY vs. NORTH CAROLINA WESLEYAN
Friday’s game vs. North Carolina Wesleyan will mark the first meeting all time between High Point and the Battling Bishops in men’s basketball.
ALL-TIME USA SOUTH SERIES
HPU has posted an 18-1 (.947) all-time record against teams from the USA South Conference. The Panthers most common USA South opponents are Greensboro College (7-1), Ferrum (5-0), Piedmont (2-0) and Covenant (2-0). In the most recent meeting with a USA South school, HPU defeated Ferrum, 106-48, on Dec. 17, 2014 inside the Millis Center. The Panthers also upended William Peace (88-71) on Nov. 25 last season. This season, HPU also will take on USA South foe Methodist on Dec. 28.
QUICK TURNAROUNDS NO PROBLEM FOR THE PANTHERS
HPU excelled in games in which preparation was at a premium in 2014-15. The Panthers posted a 5-2 record in games that tipped less than 48 hours after the conclusion of their previous contest. HPU will play North Carolina Wesleyan Sunday on less than two days rest.
UP NEXT
HPU hits the road for a battle in the City of Brotherly Love. The Panthers take on CAA foe Drexel on Wednesday (Nov. 18) at the Daskalakis Athletic Center in Philadelphia (7 p.m.). Pre-game coverage on the High Point Panthers Radio Network begins at 6:30 p.m.