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Junior Nick Barbour knocked down a three-pointer with 2:15 left that put HPU ahead for good as the High Point University men's basketball team held off Presbyterian College for a 69-62 win on Tuesday night at the Millis Center. Barbour led the Panthers with 17 points and Du'Vaughn Maxwell had a double-double (10 points, 11 rebounds).

“Our guys were really focused in the end – they got stops, made baskets and converted free throws, and those are the things you need to do to win games,” said HPU head coach Scott Cherry. “We're getting better, but it's a slow process. Our young guys are maturing and recognizing the things you need to do to win ball games, and our older guys are leading the team and guiding them in the right direction.”

High Point improved to 8-13 overall and 5-7 in the Big South while Presbyterian fell to 10-13 overall and 4-7 in Big South play.

Presbyterian jumped out to an early 7-3 lead, but HPU stormed back with a 9-0 run, capped by a Tehran Cox three-pointer that put the Panthers up 12-7 midway through the first half. High Point added a 9-2 spurt toward the end of the half highlighted by a Corey Law dunk and Jairus Simms spinning layup that pushed the lead to 26-19. Law finished the game with 10 points. HPU took a 32-28 lead into the locker room.

The Panthers came out strong in the second half, with a Maxwell tip-in, then a highlight-reel dunk by Shay Shine similar to his ESPN SportsCenter No. 1 play earlier this season against UNC Asheville. Maxwell added a jumper and HPU led 38-28. Shine scored 11 points for the Panthers. Maxwell's 10 points and career-high 11 rebounds marked his second double-double of the season.

The Blue Hose chipped away at HPU's lead and gained the advantage, 43-42, with 11:56 left on a three-pointer by Josh Johnson. From there the game went back and forth with neither team holding more than a five-point advantage until the final seconds. With Presbyterian leading 59-58 late in the game, Cox dribbled into the lane and kicked out to an open Barbour at the top of the key. Barbour knocked down the go-ahead three-pointer and HPU held the lead for good. HPU's defense held strong on the next possession, forcing a shot clock violation and then Barbour slashed to the hoop for a layup that put the Panthers up 63-59. That put the game out of reach.

Presbyterian was paced by Jake Troyli, who led all scorers with 24 points. Khalid Mutakabbir added 14 points for the Blue Hose.

High Point takes the court again on Saturday night when it hosts Radford at 7 p.m. at the Millis Center. The Panthers look to avenge a 64-59 loss on Jan. 8 in Radford, Va. Radford (5-17, 2-10 Big South) edged Winthrop, 67-66, on Tuesday night.