Site: High Point, NC (Qubein Center)
Score: High Point 91, UNC Asheville 83
Records: High Point (10-13, 4-5), UNC Asheville (12-11) (4-6)
HIGH POINT, N.C. — The High Point University men’s basketball team came out victorious in an overtime thriller against UNC Asheville 91-83 on Saturday night in the Qubein Center. The Panthers had 3 players with 20+ points as John-Michael Wright led the Panthers in scoring with 27 points. Zack Austin finished the night with 26 points and Jaden House had 22 points on the night.
GG Smith: “Fun game tonight, first of all it has been a great weekend it was good to have everyone back for family weekend. I want to thank the crowd they were unbelievable tonight. This what this place has to be every time we are at home. Credit to our fans, we have to be the best in the Big South and be some of the best in the country. It was great display of what passion and what High Point Panther basketball is all about. I am happy with the win, obviously you want to win all the games at home as much as you can.”
Panther Particulars
House got to work early scoring a quick six points in the opening four minutes of the game.
House struck again with a 3-point bucket followed up by a drive to the rim for another two points to bring his point total to eight in the first eight minutes of the game.
Wright hit back-to-back buckets to cut the Ashville lead to 23-21.
Austin sparked a 7-0 run for the Panthers with 5:21 remaining in the first half after driving to the hoop for a layup and then hitting a three-point bucket. JMW kept the run going to give HPU the lead back 30-28.
HPU strung together another five points to extend their lead to 35-29, after Alex Holt drove to the basket for a layup, followed up by another JMW jumper.
The Panthers entered the halftime break leading the bulldogs by a score of 38-34. House led the Panthers in the first-half scoring 13 points, while Wright was right behind him with 10 points.
Austin came out of the halftime break hitting back-to-back baskets to add another five points to his total on the night.
Bryant Randleman connected with Austin on the alley-oop to bring the score to 49-38 with 16:24 remaining in the second half.
House put a stop to the Bulldog run with a big 3-point bucket, followed up by two more baskets by Holt and Wright to bring the Panther lead back to 11.
Bryson Childress put the Panthers up 60-50 with 9:59 left in regulation after a big three-pointer.
Austin sparked a 7-0 with back-to-back dunks to extend the Panther lead to 12.
JMW hit a floater to slow the Bulldog momentum which brought the score to 71-65 with 3:53 remaining in the game.
Wright scored seven points in the final 20 seconds of regulation to send the game to overtime.
JMW kept the momentum going in overtime as his jumper tied the game at 80 with 4:22 left in overtime.
Austin hit his third 3-pointer of the night to give the Panthers the 83-80 lead in overtime.
UP NEXT: The Panthers will head down south to Clinton, SC to face Presbyterian in a midweek Big South matchup on Wednesday (Feb. 9). Tipoff is set for 7 pm.