| Box Score (PDF) | Post-Game Interview

• The Panthers shot 58.2 percent (32-55) from the floor and made 5-of-10 3-pointers
• Redshirt-senior John Brown posted a game-high 23 points and tied a career high with six blocks
• Head coach Scott Cherry picked up his 97^th career victory, the most in Div. I program history by a Panther bench boss
 
HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University men's basketball team (1-1) used a superb shooting effort to power past North Carolina Wesleyan, 93-69, in the team's home opener Sunday afternoon.
 
The Panthers shot 58.2 percent (32-55) in their 2015-16 debut inside the Millis Center and converted on 50 percent (5-10) of their 3-point attempts. The Panthers posted a whopping 48 of their 93 points in the paint and assisted on 20-of-32 made baskets.
 
With the victory, head coach Scott Cherry picked up his 97^th career victory, the most in Div. I program history by a Panther bench boss.
 
"We played a lot of different guys and different lineups trying to get guys experience for later on this season," Cherry said. "22 offensive rebounds for [NC Wesleyan] is too many. Rebounding is a key for us and it's something we need to improve. But we'll take the win and move on to Wednesday's game at Drexel."
 
Redshirt-senior John Brown led HPU with 23 points (8-10 FG) in just 27 minutes of action. The Jacksonville, Fla., native also tied a career high with six blocked shots and grabbed four rebounds on the day.
 
Senior forward Lorenzo Cugini posted 15 points for the second-straight game and knocked down 3-of-4 3-point attempts. Through two games this season, the marksman from Stow, Ohio, is shooting a sizzling 72.7 percent (8-11) from 3-point range.
 
Senior guard Adam Weary chipped in 14 points, six rebounds and three assists, while junior guard Anthony Lindauer added 10 points, three steals and two assists. Junior guard Jorge Perez-Laham dished out a game-high seven assists in 16 minutes at the point.
 
Freshman Ricky Madison made his home debut in style, posting 12 points and grabbing six rebounds in 13 minutes on the floor.
 
The Panthers held a sizable 32-15 advantage from the free throw line and took advantage, converting 24-of-32 attempts (.750). HPU also made nine steals and used them to hold a 19-8 edge in fast break points.
 
The Purple & White jumped out to a 15-8 advantage and led 25-18 on a dunk from Brown at the 6:44 mark of the first half. The Battling Bishops cut it to four (31-27) on a 3-pointer from Brandon Brown at the 4:07 mark, but successful free throw trips from Weary and Brown pushed the HPU lead back up to 35-27. The Panthers entered the half ahead, 42-35.
 
NCW cut the lead to five (42-37) in the opening minutes of the second half, but from there, HPU exploded for an 18-4 run over the next five minutes that gave the Panthers a 60-41 lead at the 14:44 mark of the half. The Battling Bishops cut the lead to 17 (77-60) with 4:50 remaining, but HPU's reserves put together an 11-0 run down the stretch to give the Panthers a 93-67 edge with less than a minute to play.
 
With the victory, HPU improves to 23-7 (.767) in the team's last 30 games inside the Millis Center.
 
High Point now hits the road for a battle in the City of Brotherly Love. The Panthers take on CAA foe Drexel on Wednesday (Nov. 18) at the Daskalakis Athletic Center in Philadelphia (7 p.m.). Pre-game coverage on the High Point Panthers Radio Network begins at 6:30 p.m.

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