Dustin Van Weerdhuizen (19 points) led five Panthers in double-figures as High Point defeated Coastal Carolina 87-71 Saturday afternoon at the Millis Center in the Big South opener for both teams. The Panthers (5-7) picked up their second-consecutive victory behind a balanced attack that also featured Joe Knight (15 points), Brent Halsch (13 points), Mantas Ignatavicius (12 points), and Doug Alves (11 points).
The Chanticleers (2-10) had control for the first 10 minutes and methodically built a 21-13 lead before the Panthers closed the half with a 24-5 run to take a 37-26 advantage to halftime. Alves nailed a wide-open three with 5:47 to play in the first half to give High Point its first lead of the game at 25-24. The Panthers wouldn't trail again.
John Stonehocker earned his third start of the season and responded with his best game of the year (nine points, 12 rebounds, three blocks). High Point outrebounded the Chants 46-25.
Coastal's leading scorers were Kelvin Coggins (19 points) and Derrick Robinson (17 points).
Both teams are back in action Monday night. Coastal makes a short trip down I-40 to face Elon, while the Panthers host Charleston Southern at the Millis Center. Both games start at 7:00 pm.
Coastal Carolina (71) - Coggins 7-19 0-3 19, Nagel 1-1 0-0 2, Green 1-6 4-4 7, Robinson 7-14 3-6 17, Newby 4-12 0-0 11, Reinders 0-0 0-0 0, Durovic 0-0 0-0 0, Susnjara 1-6 6-8 8, Darden 2-3 3-4 7.
High Point (87) - Halsch 3-5 7-8 13, Stonehocker 3-9 3-6 9, Ignatavicius 3-3 6-6 12, Knight 3-10 8-8 15, Van Weerdhuizen 5-14 7-8 19, Alves 3-4 2-2 11, Hart 0-0 0-0 0, Barrow 2-3 2-2 6, Johnson 1-1 0-0 2.
Coastal Carolina 26 45 71 High Point 37 50 87
3-Point Goals- Coastal Carolina 9-22 (Coggins 5-10, Newby 3-8, Green 1-2, Robinson 0-2), High Point 6-15 (Alves 3-4, Van Weerdhuizen 2-7, Knight 1-4). Fouled out- High Point (Barrow). Rebounds- Coastal Carolina 25 (Robinson 5), High Point 46 (Stonehocker 12). Assists- Coastal Carolina 7 (Susnjara 3), High Point 11 (Knight 4).
