Site: Greensboro, N.C. (Corbett Sports Center)
Score: High Point 78, North Carolina A&T 58
Records: High Point 12-17 (6-9), North Carolina A&T 11-18 (6-9)
GREENSBORO, N.C. — High Point University men’s basketball won big against NC A&T on the road 78-58 on Wednesday night (Feb 23.). Four Panthers finished in double digits, every High Point player that saw action on Wednesday night scored at least four points. John-Michael Wright led the way for HPU with 18 points, Jaden House had 15 off the bench, Zack Austin scored 14, Bryant Randleman added 10 points in the win.
Coach GG Smith: I thought it was by far our most complete game tonight. We started Rob Peterson today he came in and gave us a lot of energy, and some big-time senior leadership to start the game. Today is also his birthday so he was ready to play. John-Michael and Bryant controlled the game from the tip. We did a great job rebounding the ball, we made our free throws, and we shot the ball extremely well. We still turned the ball over a little more than I wanted but today is the first day we did not give up a big run to the other team. We held A&T; they couldn’t get that big run. We contained them for most of the game and our guys did a great job.
Panther Particulars
HPU opened the game with an 8-4 start through the first four minutes of the game. Bryant Randleman scored four straight points that caused an Aggie timeout.
The Panthers built an early lead, ahead by as many as nine and that was in large part to House who had 11 points in just four minutes off the bench less than ten minutes into the game.
Wright drove down the floor as the Panthers had a ten-point lead and scored a basket as he was fouled. He completed the three-point play to put HPU in front 27-14 with 8:32 to play.
An Alex Holt jam put the Panthers up 34-21 with 2:54 to play in the first half.
The Aggies would battle back but a late bucket by Austin in the first half kept HPU up 10 at halftime.
The Panthers shot 54.4 percent in the first half and took a ten-point lead into the break 37-27.
Emmanuel Izunabor gave his Panthers a 41-28 lead to start the second half.
Austin faded away with 17:40 left in the second half and put HPU up 43-31.
Rob Peterson III grabbed a rebound off an Austin shot and was fouled as he scored and completed the three-point play.
Austin nailed a three with 16:05 to play and put HPU up 49-33.
The Panther lead started to seriously climb with 12 minutes to play as Bryson Childress scored six points in less than a minute on two three-pointers which put HPU in front 59-38.
Another Austin three gave him 14 points on the day and his Panthers a 21-point lead with 11:15 to play.
HPU went on to win by twenty points 78-58 for G.G Smith’s first official win as Head Coach of HPU.
Up Next
HPU returns to the Qubein Center for the final time in its inaugural season to host Hampton on senior day on Saturday, (Feb 26) at 2:00 PM. HPU will be celebrating three seniors in John-Michael Hughes, Rob Peterson III, and Caden Sanchez.