Zione White scored 19 points, Javier Palacios added 16 points and Jerry Echenique tallied 14 points to lead High Point past The Citadel, 94-70, Tuesday night in the Millis Center.

The victory helped the Panthers (7-4) match their win total for the entire 2002-03 campaign. It also clinches the Panthers' best non-conference finish since HPU joined the NCAA Division I ranks in the 1998-99 season.

The Panthers connected on nine of 10 three-point shots in the first half and jumped out to an early 19-5 advantage on a trey by Chris Meeks with 14:31 to go in the opening period. The Bulldogs (3-8) got within single-digits just once the entire rest of the way, at 19-10 moments later on a Kevin Hammack three-pointer.

The Panthers shot 60 percent (18-of-30) from the field in the first half en route to a commanding 54-29 advantage at the break. White and Palacios each had 14 points before intermission to help HPU post its largest first-half scoring output of the year.

High Point's lead shrunk under 20 points just twice in the second half. The closest the Bulldogs came was 18 points at 74-56 with 6:45 left following an Anthony Miller layup.

Hammack, Dante Terry and Joseph Thompson each had 12 points for The Citadel, while Max Mombollet added 10 points.

Meeks (11 points) also reached double-figures for HPU, while White provided a team-best seven rebounds and four steals. Palacios hit all five shots he took from the field (4-of-4 from behind the arc), plus both free throws.

Jeff Allen added six assists against just one turnover for the Panthers, who won the battles of rebounding (39-34) and turnovers (20-18).

The Panthers open Big South Conference play Saturday afternoon at Charleston Southern (4:00 pm). A Monday night date with Coastal Carolina (7:00 pm) is also part of the road trip before HPU's Big South home opener against rival Winthrop on Thursday, Jan, 8 in the Millis Center.

To read game notes for the Charleston Southern game, click on the "Game Notes" link below this story.