Wednesday, January 12th, 7:30 PM -- vs USC Upstate
Watch | Live Stats | High Point Hoops Media Guide 2021-22 | Game Notes
The High Point University men's basketball team returns to action with its first Big South contest of the season with a trip down to Spartanburg, S.C. to take on USC Upstate (Wednesday, Jan 12). The HPU women face Upstate at 5:00 PM, the Panther men will face the Spartans following that game at 7:30 PM.
Across the Bench
USC Upstate is 1-1 so far in conference play with a loss against Radford but a win last time out against PC. Upstate defeated the Blue Hose 82-72 as three-point shooting led them to victory. The Spartans went 11-16 for three. No player on USC Upstate missed more than two of their attempted three-pointers against PC.
Upstate's leading scorer is Bryson Mozone who averages 14.1 points per game. He scored 20 points in the opener against the SEC's South Carolina.
Last Time Out
HPU dropped its final non-conference contest of the year against Kentucky 92-48 on New Year's Eve. John-Michael Wright and Zack Austin led the Panthers in scoring as they each scored 12 points on the night.
Lexington Legend
Prior to the game, The University of Kentucky honored its 1998 national championship coach Tubby Smith. When it was time for the ceremony, Coach Smith made his way out of the visitor's tunnel at Rupp Arena for the first time in his career. As soon as the Wildcat faithful got as much as a glimpse of Coach Smith 19,735 fans rushed to their feet greeting the national championship coach with a chill-inducing reaction.
Five Time Freshman
Austin had 15 points against MSU and eight rebounds nearly a double-double. Against Kentucky, Austin had 12 points and six rebounds. Part of the reason National Player of the Week Oscar Tshiebwe had only eight rebounds just a few nights removed from his 28-rebound game against Western Kentucky. It was only the second time Tshiebwe recorded single-digit rebounds this season. The other game was Notre Dame's upset win over the Wildcats earlier in December. This is the fifth time in seven weeks that Austin has earned Big South Freshman of the Week honors.
PowerHOUSE
Jaden House had a good showing in the last week of 2021 against two Power-5 teams. 18 points and brought in four rebounds against #10 Michigan State. Recorded eight points while bringing in four rebounds against #18 Kentucky.
The Wright Way
Wright is averaging 19.6 points per game which leads the Big South and gives him the 30th highest points per game average in the nation. Wright is currently 7th all-time on the Division-I HPU scoring list with 1182. He is 77 points away from moving into 6th and surpassing Adam Weary.
Tubby and the Three
The Panthers are shooting at 37.8 percent behind the arc, which is the 32nd highest three-point percentage in the nation. This is the second time since his 1998 National Championship winning team that Tubby Smith has coached a team in the top 100 of three-point percentage. High Point (37.8, 32nd, 2021-22) Minnesota (39.9, 9th, 2009-10).
Block Party
Austin is second in the Big South and 13th in the country in blocks per game with an average of 3.00.
#OurCityOurUniversity x #GoHPU
