Site: Rock Hill S.C. (Winthrop Coliseum)
Score: Winthrop 84, High Point 76
Records: HPU (9-22, 6-12 Big South), WU (21-10, 15-3 Big South)
Next HPU Event: Tuesday, March 3 (Big South First Round), TBA
 
ROCK HILL, S.C. -- High Point University men's basketball team dropped its final regular season contest of the season 84-76 at Winthrop on Saturday (Feb. 29) afternoon. Senior Jamal Wright and freshman John-Michael Wright paced the Panthers with 24 points apiece, which was a game high.
 
Jamal Wright - who was starting in his second consecutive game - began the contest with the team's first four points, with freshman Bryant Randleman also contributing with four of his own in the early minutes. The lead changed 11 times throughout the first half where no team led by more than four. HPU jumped out to a four point lead (41-37) after a free throw by John-Michael Wright. The freshman finished the opening stanza with a game-high 16 points, while the Panthers shot 60% (15-25) from the floor.
 
Winthrop started the second half on a 9-0 run to take a 13-point lead (it's largest of the game) before HPU proceeded on a 10-0 run of its own to cut the deficit to three (55-52).
 
HPU would cut the deficit to four (71-67) off an 8-0 run with 5:09 after an Emmanuel Izunabor jump shot, however, the Panthers were unable to mount a comeback with the Eagles hitting key shots in the final minutes to hold on for their 21st win of the season.  
 
John-Michael Wright's 24 points was his 23rd game in double digits and seventh with at least 20 points.
 
High Point will await the final seeding ahead of the Big South Conference Tournament that will begin on Tuesday, March 3 with the first round.