Site: High Point, N.C. (Millis Center)
Score: Presbyterian 71, High Point 56
Records: High Point (4-9), 2-6 Big South, Presbyterian (4-8), 2-6 Big South
Next HPU Event: Friday, January 29th vs. Charleston Southern (Millis Center), 6:00 PM
HIGH POINT, N.C.,— The High Point University men's basketball team fell to Presbyterian, 71-56, on Monday evening in the Millis Center. The Panthers were led by sophomore John-Michael Wright who had 22 points while also picking up four steals. Lydell Elmore also scored in double-figures, tallying 10 points while grabbing five boards. Emmanuel Izunabor neared a double-double as the sophomore brought in a game-high 11 rebounds and scored seven points.
"Last night was different circumstances, what a difference a day makes," Head Coach Tubby Smith said. "Presbyterian came ready to play we tried to let our kids know this morning at the shoot around that they had to be prepared and had to be ready. PC had two players that did not play much last night but they played well tonight. Rayshon Harrison, Trevon Reddish, and Brandon Younger really stepped up as did Winston Hill. We could not get any momentum and could not make any shots. We had the momentum early on but we made a lot of mistakes. It was disappointing that we did not do the job on the defensive end and on the boards that's a real telltale sign that you are not playing as hard as you should, based on rebounds. We got beat on the boards tonight after beating them pretty handily on the boards last night. "
The Panthers came out of the gate the way they ended the game yesterday (Jan. 24), opening up the game on an 11-2 run that included Izunabor's first career three-point attempt and make. After a defensive battle between both teams, an Alex Holt layup broke a five-minute scoreless-streak for High Point and made it a 13-8 lead with just under 10 minutes to play in the first.
The teams traded buckets and went into the under-four media tied at 21. Wright led the way for the Purple and White in the first half, scoring 11 of the team's 26 points. A late three-pointer from Presbyterian gave the Blue Hose a slight 31-26 advantage at the break.
Wright picked up where he left off in the first half, scoring five straight points in 45 seconds to cut the High Point deficit to 33-36 at the first media timeout in the second, but a 6-0 Presbyterian run out of the break gave the Blue Hose a nine-point lead. The Panthers stayed in the game at the foul line, finishing the game 19-26 at the line, scoring eight straight of their points from the charity stripe during a stretch of the second half.
A 9-2 run put the Panthers within four, 52-48, with just over five minutes to play, but Presbyterian went on a 9-2 run of their own to stretch the lead back to double-figures at the under-four timeout. High Point was unable to cut back into the lead and fell with a final score of 71-56.
UP NEXT: The Panthers stay at home in the Millis Center for another Big South two game series as Charleston Southern comes to HPU on Friday (Jan. 29) and Saturday (Jan. 30). Friday's game will tip at 6:00 PM while Saturday's will tip at 4:00 PM. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+.
#GoHPU
