In his first college game, freshman guard Joe Knight displayed the poise of a senior, pouring in a game-high 25 points on 5-of-9 three-point shooting. Junior Dustin Van Weerdhuizen recorded a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds.

With the game tied in the final minute, Auburn center Kyle Davis made a layup that would give the Tigers (1-0) the lead for good at 61-59. The Panthers (0-1) brough the ball up court and turned it over, but Auburn's Derrick Bird took an ill-advised shot which gave HPU the ball with 15 seconds left. The Panthers again lost the ball in the paint, and Bird jammed it as the buzzer sounded to give the Tigers a much-closer-than-expected four-point win.

Davis led Auburn with 13 points, while freshman Marco Killingsworth added 12 for the Tigers.

HIGH POINT (59) -- Van Weerdhuizen 5-13 2-6 12, Halsch 2-6 0-1 4, Wallace 6-14 0-0 12, Knight 10-20 0-0 25, Alves 1-5 2-2 4, Cornette 0-1 2-2 2, Barrow 0-1 0-2 0. Totals 24-60 4-8 59.
AUBURN (63) -- Killingsworth 4-9 0-0 8, Davis 3-5 1-2 7, Daniels 5-10 0-1 12, Bird 4-8 5-8 13, Mitchell 1-1 0-0 2, Diame 0-2 0-0 0, Robinson 0-1 2-2 2, Harrington 3-9 3-6 10, Monroe 0-0 0-0 0, Watson 0-1 0-0 0, McGadney 3-7 3-4 9. Totals 23-53 14-23 63.
Halftime: Auburn 27, High Point 25. 3-point goals--High Point 7-18 (Knight 5-9, Van Weerdhuizen 2-6, Alves 0-3), Auburn 3-10 (Daniels 2-2, Harrington 1-6, Bird 0-2). Fouled out--Alves. Rebounds--High Point 40 (Van Weerdhuizen 14), Auburn 32 (Harrington 6). Assists--High Point 9 (Van Weerdhuizen/Halsch 3), Auburn 16 (Killingsworth/Daniels/Mitchell 4).