Site: Clinton, SC (Templeton Center)
Score: High Point 79, Presbyterian 70
Records: High Point (11-13, 5-5), Presbyterian (11-18) (3-8)
CLINTON, S.C. — High Point men’s basketball picked up its first Big South road win of the year with a 79-70 victory over the Blue Hose on Wednesday night (Feb. 9th). Jaden House led the way for HPU with 20 points, Zack Austin had 19 points, while John-Michael Wright dropped 16 points all en route to the win. The Panthers shot 91.3% from the free-throw line going 21-23 from the charity stripe.
GG Smith: “I thought it was a total team effort tonight, I have to give our veteran guys a lot of credit. I thought Rob Peterson III came in and gave us some good energy. Our guys really came out to play and you have to come out with the right mindset especially being on the road, I was really happy with the win.”
Panther Particulars
Austin opened the game up for HPU with a quick five points hitting a three then he made a quick move in the paint and finished a backward jam. Austin put HPU up 5-3 with 17:54 to play in the first half.
House came down and nailed a three in transition to put HPU up 11-6 with 16:37 remaining in the first half.
Holt provided a burst of six points off the bench, including two strong finishes on the inside on two feeds from Peterson.
A JMW three with six minutes to play in the half gave HPU a 24-16 lead.
House moved the Panther lead to double digits as he drove to the basket and finished strong.
An Austin triple with less than 30 to go in the half ensured the Purple & White would take a ten-point lead into the break.
Wright nailed a three-pointer to push the Panther lead above ten once again, 41-30 with 18:14 to play.
With 17:29 Emmanuel Izunabor slammed it down to give HPU a 43-33 lead.
With 12:40 to play, Peterson found Austin who was sprinting to the opposite end, Austin scored on a lay-up and was fouled. He hit the free throw and completed the three-point play.
In the span of a minute, Holt added a quick four points to the Panther lead including one bucket that came on a nasty two-handed slam.
The Panthers were able to hold off the late Blue Hose charge.
With a minute left, Austin made a huge block that created transition for the Panthers as House caught the ball in stride on a feed from JMW and laid it in to give HPU a 74-65 lead with 53 seconds to play.
Austin sealed the win with a jam to make it 76-67 with 48 seconds left.
High Point went on to win 79-70, the Panthers are now 5-5 in Big South play on the year.
Up Next
The Panthers prepare for Longwood as they will see the Lancers two times next week including a nationally televised game on ESPNU at 9 PM inside the Qubein Center on February 17th.