The High Point Panthers found a way to extend their season best win streak earning a hard-fought 59-56 road win over Coastal Carolina on Monday night in front of a near capacity crowd of 1,074 at Kimbel Arena.
The win marked the eighth consecutive for HPU, who improves to 15-5 on the year and remains undefeated in Big South play at 6-0. The win also snapped a 15-game home win streak for Coastal Carolina (11-8, 4-2). The Panthers earned just their second ever sweep of the league's "Beach Trip" after topping Charleston Southern on Saturday.
After trailing for much of the game including a nine-point deficit in the second half, High Point outscored the Chants 8-1 over the final two minutes of the game to earn the improbable victory. Junior Mike Jefferson sparked the final charge hitting a three-pointer and grabbing a steal on an inbounds pass before passing to Arizona Reid for the go ahead points.
"Tonight's game was a real struggle for us," said HPU head coach Bart Lundy. "I was proud of our effort and the way that despite struggling that we were able to grind it out for the win. Our defense allowed us to keep things close and we were finally able to make a late push and earn the win. Tonight was just another example of the heart of this team."
Reid led High Point with 19 points and 11 rebounds marking his ninth double-double of the year and fifth in the last six games. Landon Quick added 10 points for the Panthers as did freshman Eugene Harris. Jefferson finished with seven points along with four assists.
Joseph Harris notched a double-double for CCU scoring 12 points and pulling down a game high 15 boards while Moses Sonko led the way for Coastal with 16 points. Reigning Big South Player of the Year, Jack Leasure, finished with just two points on 1-for-20 shooting from the floor as Harris led a smothering defensive performance against the Chant standout.
Coastal Carolina grabbed the early lead outscoring High Point, 9-2, in the first four minutes of the game. HPU battled its way back in the game behind three straight buckets from Reid and finally earned their first lead of the game, 17-16 at the 10:38 mark.
The contest stayed close for much of the rest of the period before CCU closed with an 11-0 run for the final 3:56 of the frame to earn a 35-27 edge at the half.
The Chanticleers extended their advantage to a game high nine points, 38-29, just over two minutes into the second half. At that point, HPU scored the next nine points to earn the third tie of the game at 12:41. The two teams then had several ties and lead changes before HPU's final surge for the victory.
High Point shot 41.8 percent from the floor for the game while holding Coastal to just 38.2 percent. The Panthers also allowed the Chants just one three-pointer on 15 attempts (6.7 percent) including an 0-7 performance by Leasure, one of the league's top long rangers.
HPU now returns home for their only home game in the next three weeks as they play host to defending Big South champion Winthrop on Thursday at 7 p.m. The game pits the league's two undefeated squads against each other.
