High Point scored 14 consecutive points over the final four and a half minutes to take a 62-61 lead over homestanding Birmingham-Southern, but Josiah James' fadeway jumper with 1.7 seconds to go gave BSC a dramatic 63-62 win in a battle of Panthers Wednesday night at Bill Battle Coliseum.

HPU falls to 6-18, while BSC improves to 16-9.

The game doesn't count in the Big South Conference standings, since BSC is still a provisional NCAA Division I member.

High Point has now lost five straight and 12 of 13 - but the loss is the eighth for the Panthers this season by five points or less.

Joe Knight led the comeback with 10 of the 14 points in the Panthers' game-ending run, including a clutch three-pointer with 18.1 seconds left to give HPU a 62-61 lead.

BSC went down the court and Derrick Williams lost the ball out of bounds, but head coach Duane Reboul was granted a time-out before the crucial turnover.

The ball was inbounded with 13.9 seconds, and Williams missed a jumper but High Point knocked the ball out of bounds and BSC got it back with 6.0 seconds left. James took the inbounds, dribbled to his left and launched a fadeaway from seven feet away that found the bottom of the net. HPU called time out and had a last-gasp shot, but Danny Gathings' prayer from mid-court sailed wide and BSC escaped.

Knight led all scorers with 29 points, while Gathings and Kashawn Hampton tallied 10 points apiece.

James led Birmingham-Southern with 16 points, while Williams and Corey Watkins added 14 points apiece.

With Elon's 75-72 upset of UNC Asheville 75-72 Wednesday night, the Panthers are now guaranteed an eighth-place finish in the Big South and a first-round tournament matchup with the league's top seed.

HPU returns to action Wednesday, Feb. 26, against Liberty in the Mills Center (7:00 pm).