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The High Point University men's basketball team held a slim lead for nearly the entire second half and senior Eugene Harris went 5-for-6 from the free throw line in the final 12 seconds en route to a 71-66 win over Winthrop on Thursday night before a crowd of 1,612 at the Millis Center. Sophomore Nick Barbour led all scorers with 20 points and redshirt freshman Corey Law had 14 points and 10 rebounds.

It was HPU's third annual Black Out against Winthrop, with each fan in the crowd of 1,612 getting a free black HPU T-shirt.

"That was another really good environment, a really good atmosphere at the Millis Center," said HPU head coach Scott Cherry. "The guys really feed off that. We did a good job defensively but more importantly, we scored the ball against them. They're a really good defensive team but we attacked the basket and drew fouls. We didn't settle for jump shots."

High Point improved to 14-14 overall and 9-8 in the Big South with the win. The Panthers kept their chances alive for a home game in the first round of the Big South Tournament. High Point needs to beat Presbyterian on Saturday and have Gardner-Webb beat UNC Asheville for a chance to host a first-round playoff game. With the loss, Winthrop is 16-12 overall and 12-5 in the Big South.

Barbour went 9-for-9 from the free-throw line and became just the second player in HPU's Div. I era (since 1998-99) to go perfect from the line while attempting at least nine free throws. The other was Dustin Van Weerdhuizen against Eastern Kentucky on Dec. 4, 2001.

HPU got two fast-break buckets to begin the game, the first on a quick layup by Harris and the second on a long pass from Tehran Cox to Law. An acrobatic layup by Jairus Simms gave High Point a 10-8 lead before Winthrop's Mantoris Robinson hit a trey to give the Eagles their first lead of the game. A pair of free throws by Law had HPU back on top, 14-13, before a two-and-one by Robinson, a putback by Matt Morgan and a jumper by Robbie Dreher made it 20-14 in favor of the Eagles.

Barbour had two two-and-ones late in the first half – his first getting HPU a 26-23 lead and the second getting the Panthers on top 31-28. After a pair of David Singleton free throws, Winthrop's Reggie Middleton hit a trey to close out the half, getting Winthrop within one point at 33-31.

Winthrop's Dreher hit a trey to open the second half and make it 34-33 in favor of the Eagles, and that was the last lead they would hold. High Point scored the next nine points, including five from Barbour, to make it 42-34 and prompt a Winthrop timeout. Winthrop got it back within one point on two occasions late in the game – first when Robinson hit a pair of free throws to make it 56-55 and the second on a jumper by Morgan that made it 58-57 – but Winthrop was never able to tie it back up.

HPU senior Cruz Daniels hit a one-handed dunk to make it 65-61 HPU with just over two minutes left on the clock and there were only free throws the rest of the way. Winthrop went 5-for-6 and High Point went 6-for-8 from the line in the final minutes, including the five baskets from Harris. He scored 12 points on the night.

Four Eagles scored in double-figures: Morgan (15), Dreher (13), Robinson (13) and Middleton (12).

The Panthers host their final regular season game on Saturday when Presbyterian comes to the Millis Center for a 7 p.m. tipoff. It will be Senior Night for Daniels and Harris.

"I really want to send our two seniors out on a good note," said Cherry. "Eugene and Cruz have both done everything I have asked and more since I got here. They could have easily not bought in, but they have been the best teammates and really good leaders this season."