HPU MBB Panthers Collect Second Straight Big South Win

Site: High Point, NC (Qubein Center)
Score: High Point 63, Radford 58
Records: High Point (9-11, 3-3), Radford (6-13) (2-5)

HIGH POINT, N.C. — The High Point University men’s basketball team picked up their third conference win of the season by a score of 63-58 in the Qubein Center on Wednesday night (Jan. 26). John-Michael Wright led the way for the Panthers with 18 points on the night while Zack Austin finished with 16 points on the night.

G.G Smith: This game was just another total team effort. This was the second game in a row where we really locked down defended especially in the second half guarding the three but just overall as well. This was our third game in five days, late in the second half our guys just dug down deep and played extremely hard. Brock (Williams) came in and gave us a quality 15 minutes of play in his first real action of the year. I’m really excited about him. Credit to Radford, it was a tough game and they are a tough matchup. It is the first time we have beaten Winthrop and Radford since we have been here as a staff so I am really excited about that. It is going to be a quick turnaround Saturday against Campbell and now we will get ready for them.

Panther Particulars

Jaden House got the offense started for the Panthers scoring the first five points for HPU.

John-Michael Wright hits the first three-pointer of the night for HPU to bring the Panthers within one with 13:15 to go in the first.

Emmanuel Izunabor sparked an 11-2 scoring run halfway through the first half starting with a converted lay-up, followed up by a Brock Williams three-pointer to give High Point a 21-16 lead.

It was a burst of six points from the freshman from Burlington, N.C. who helped the Panthers build their lead.

Austin strung together three buckets in a row for the Panthers to extend the HPU lead to six.

Wright connected with Austin as he slammed it home for an alley-oop that put HPU up four with 2:35 to play in the first.

The Panthers entered the halftime break tied at 33. Austin led the way in the first half scoring ten points in the opening 20 minutes. Wright was right behind him with eight points.

Wright opened up the second half with a three pointer to give HPU the lead 36-34 with 18:26 to go.

Alex Holt used his strength to drive to the basket and find back-to-back buckets for HPU to tie the game up at 45 and then again at 47. High Point was tied with Radford with 13:20 remaining in the game.

A big charge taken by Bryson Childress led to another bucket for House on the Panther offensive end.

A 10-2 run sparked by House and Wright put the Panthers ahead 57-50 with 8:19 to play.

HPU went on to win 63-58. It was the Panthers’ second straight Big South win.

UP NEXT: HPU looks to keep this momentum going with a trip to Buies Creek on Saturday (Jan. 29) to face Campbell. Tipoff is set for 2 pm.