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Postgame with Scott Cherry
Postgame with Corey Law
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The High Point University men's basketball team got 28 points from sophomore Nick Barbour and held off Charleston Southern for a 73-68 win on Saturday night before a sellout crowd of 1,750 at the Millis Center. Senior Eugene Harris scored 18 points and redshirt freshman Corey Law scored 10 with nine boards.

The Panthers had a big lead early in the game, but Charleston Southern came back in the final 10 minutes to tie it up. In the last minute with Charleston Southern surging, senior Cruz Daniels came up with a huge rejection on a shot by CSU's Billy Blackmon and drew a foul. Daniels hit one of his two free throws before CSU's Jeremy Sexton hit a trey to make it 69-65. Charleston Southern was fouling, but HPU's Barbour and Harris both hit a pair of free throws in the final 17 seconds to seal the victory.

"We played a great first half. In the second half we struggled a little, offensively. We didn't capitalize on our opportunities," said HPU head coach Scott Cherry. "I give my guys credit, they battled the whole game, even when CSU took the lead at the end. We made some plays at the end – Cruz's block and the free throws from Nick and Eugene."

High Point improved to 13-12 overall and 8-6 in the Big South while Charleston Southern fell to 11-14 overall and 6-9 in the conference. Charleston Southern was led by Kelvin Martin's 18 points and 10 rebounds. Guard Jamarco Warren put up 16 and Sexton scored 11 for the Buccaneers.

HPU got out to a big lead in the first half, riding a 25-10 run to a 31-16 advantage when Barbour hit a fast-break layup. At one point, HPU scored 14 straight points that included treys by freshman Jairus Simms, Harris and Barbour.

Charleston Southern was able to make up some ground in the final five minutes of the first half, getting within nine points (31-22) before Barbour drew a three-shot foul and drained all three with 1:05 on the clock. Charleston Southern made it 34-24 at the half when Sexton sank a pair of free throws.

At the start of the second half, Barbour got a two-and-one after he drew a foul from CSU's Warren. After HPU stretched it to 41-28, Charleston Southern's Kenny Mitchell scored five straight points to get back within eight. A steal by Warren that led to a Sexton layup with 13:45 on the clock made it 41-35 in favor of the Panthers before Barbour drained a three to get the Panthers back out front by nine. The Bucs then got three straight baskets, including the final two off turnovers, to make it 44-41 and Charleston Southern was on the comeback trail.

A jumper by CSU's Patrick Shaughnessy made it 50-49 with 8:18 left in the game. After HPU turned it over on the ensuing possession, Warren drained a three-pointer to give Charleston Southern its first lead since early in the game at 52-50.

The game went back and forth for several minutes before the Panthers were able to pull away for good. Law slammed home a basket and made it a three-point play to put HPU up, 63-60. HPU then forced a turnover and Law slammed home another to make it 65-60. The Panthers kept Charleston Southern at bay over the final two minutes to claim the victory.

"We played a very good 35-minute game, we just need to get to playing a good 40-minute game like Coach Cherry says," said Barbour. "We've been giving up some leads, which is what happened last time we played them. [Getting the win tonight] shows we can pull out a tight game … It shows determination and mental toughness."

The Panthers have a pair of road games next week, taking on VMI on Tuesday and Liberty on Saturday. Both games begin at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast live on 98.3 FM.