High Point led by as many as nine points in the second half, but UNC Asheville turned up the heat and came back to beat the Panthers, 64-60, Monday night in Big South men's basketball action in the Millis Center.

The Panthers (5-12, 1-5 Big South) have dropped six straight in heartbreaking fashion. UNCA snapped a four-game skid and improved to 6-11 (3-2 in league play).

The losing streak now features five losses by four points or less, and one in overtime (to league-leading Charleston Southern).

HPU led 37-34 at halftime on a Joe Knight three-pointer as the clock ticked down. The Panthers continued to control the tempo midway through the second half, building a nine-point advantage after two free throws by Danny Gathings to lead 48-39 with 11:55 to play.

The Bulldogs clawed back and regained the lead at 54-51 on a Bryan McCullough trey with 6:40 to go. HPU would tie things up at 54-54 on a free throw and layup by Dustin Van Weerdhuizen, but wouldn't lead again.

Still, things were far from settled. Trailing 62-58 with 1:00 left, Van Weerdhuizen sank a layup, made a steal and hit two free throws after being fouled to pull the Panthers within 62-60 with 43 seconds to play. HPU then forced a turnover on the other end, but Gathings' driving layup with 12 seconds left was off the mark and Andre Smith sealed things with two foul shots for the final margin.

Gathings led all scorers with 17 points, while Knight tallied 15 points and Van Weerdhuizen 10 points.

Three Bulldogs recorded double-doubles: Ben McGonagil (16 points/11 rebounds), Joseph Barber (13 points/10 rebounds) and Smith (12 points/10 rebounds).

HPU returns to action in front of a regional television audience Friday night in Rock Hill against Winthrop (7:00 pm tip-off). The game will be televised live across the Southeast on Fox Sports Net South (Channel 51 in High Point/Greensboro, Channel 46 in Winston-Salem).