Site: High Point, N.C. (Millis Center)
Score: High Point 79, Averett 68
Next HPU Event: Tuesday, Nov. 5 -- vs William & Mary (Millis Center), 7 p.m.
 
HIGH POINT, N.C. -- High Point University men's basketball team had 48 points in the paint en route to a 79-68 victory over Averett in an exhibition contest on Wednesday (Oct. 30) evening at Millis Center.

The Panthers were led offensively by a duo of freshmen as Eric Coleman Jr. and Bryant Randleman led HPU in scoring with 14 and 12 points respectively.  
 
Out of an Averett timeout at the seven-minute mark freshman John-Michael Wright hit a three, while fellow classmate Emmanuel Izunabor had a breakaway dunk to push the Panthers lead to nine. The Cougars put together a few stops in a row but sophomore Curtis Holland III kept the momentum rolling for HPU with a thunderous drunk to put the hosts up by 11 and took a 40-29 lead into halftime.
 
High Point came out hot to start the second half with a redshirt sophomore Caden Sanchez dunk and a Coleman Jr. three pointer. The Cougars were 3-3 from three-point range to start the second half to cut their deficit within six, then hit another shot from beyond the arc to cut the HPU lead to four.
 
Redshirt junior Cliff Thomas Jr. was fouled on the inside and hit the shot to make it a three-point play in the later stages of the second half, while Izunabor made high-impact plays in the paint during the latter stages to cushion the HPU lead.
 
HPU will kick off the regular season slate in the final home opener at Millis on Tuesday (Nov. 5) when it hosts William & Mary. First tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.