Site: Spartanburg, S.C (G.B. Hodge Center)
Score: High Point 65, USC Upstate 66
Records: High Point (6-9), USC Upstate (5-10)
SPARTANBURG, S.C..— High Point University men's basketball dropped a last-second heartbreaker to USC Upstate 66-65. Upstate was able to score in the final seconds to win despite a valiant effort from the Panthers. Three of the six Panthers that played ended their nights with double digits in points. Alex Holt led the way with 16 points, Bryson Childress was right behind him with 15 points as he went 5-9 from three-point land. John-Michael Wright was the final Panther in double digits with 12 points on the night
Tubby Smith: "It was a great effort, our kids worked their butts off, We had six scholarship players and I thought they did a really good job. Alex was outstanding, I thought Bryson was outstanding then John-Michael came alive when we needed him. If we could just take care of the ball better but he (Dalvin White) made a great shot. John-Michael gave us a lead then they hit the three. We wanted to take the three away but you don't want to foul either."
Coach Smith on the Panther effort: "Tremendous. They played 10 guys, 10 against six. When we get our troops back we should be ok. We did a tremendous job on the boards and I can't say enough about Alex and Bryson two guys who come off of the bench and had solid production tonight. I thought we were very impressive tonight. But it is a heart-wrenching loss because we have lost quite a few close games."
Panther Particulars
The scoring for HPU started from behind the arc. In the first five minutes of the game, Austin had a three while Childress exploded for three triples. Childress started the game going three for three and had nine points with 15:23 still on the clock in the first half. After that run HPU led 12-7 with 15:23 to play in the first.
With 14:27 remaining in the first half Austin followed a missed Panther shot and finished with a slam to extend HPU's lead to 14-9.
With less than five to play in the first half, Austin found a cutting Wright who scored to put HPU up 26-21
Holt went 5-6 in the first half as he went for 12 points in the first half.
Holt drew a big and-one with 2:41 to go in the first half to put his Panthers up 30-26.
To cap an outstanding first half for Childress he hit one more three that came with 1:15 to go. Childress ended the first half with 12 points as his hot start from the outside helped HPU to a 33-27 lead at the half.
The Spartans stormed back to open the second half and tied the game at 35 with less than 18 to go in the second half. Emmanuel Izunabor was delivered a ball on the inside off of a hard pass from Austin, Izunabor pump-faked got the defender to jump then slammed it home with two hands.
Izunabor's jam gave HPU a 37-35 lead with 17:00 to go.
Childress' big night from beyond the arc continued as he nailed a three while he was fouled with 14:08 to play (43-42).
Holt followed that up with a rim-shaking jam less than two minutes later to extend the lead to 45-42.
Izunabor came up clutch with 6:09 to play as he completed a three-point play to give his Panthers a 54-51 lead.
With 2:00 to play Upstate led 61-58 thanks to a 10-4 run by the Spartans. Wright hit a massive three to tie the game at 61 with 1:56 remaining.
With less than a minute to go with the game still tied at 61, JMW hit a pull-up jumper to put HPU in front 63-61.
After Upstate answered to tie the game at 63, JMW was fouled as he drove to the basket with 18 seconds left.
Wright hit both free throws to give HPU a 65-63 lead with 18 seconds to play.
Upstate came down and the Spartans were able to hit a three to take a one-point lead with six seconds remaining.
With less than six seconds to go HPU in bounded the ball to Childress who took a dribble then fired a three from half court that nearly went down for the win. Austin went up and brought down the rebound he fired a quick shot and was met with heavy defense and contact from the Spartans. His shot did not go in and the game was declared over by the officials as the buzzer sounded.
Up Next
HPU returns to the Qubein Center to host the Big South's newest member and familiar triad opponent NC A&T on Saturday. It will be only the third time HPU has played NC A&T. It will be the first time Coach Smith has coached against the Aggies.
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