Site: High Point, N.C (Qubein Center)
Score: High Point 78, NC A&T 71
Records: High Point (7-9, 1-1), NC A&T (8-10, 3-1)
HIGH POINT, N.C..— High Point University men's basketball handed the NC A&T Aggies their first conference loss of the season by a score of 78-71 in their inaugural Big South meeting on Saturday night in the Qubein Center. John-Michael Wright led the way for the Panthers with 28 points on the night. HPU improved to 1-1 in the Big South.
Tubby Smith: It was a good effort. It was an honor to play A&T and recognize Gene Littles, who is the greatest player to play in the history of High Point University. It was such a spirited game because Gene had played here but coached there and won championships there. It was a special night for High Point University and myself because I know what he meant to me and this University. He is one of the reasons I came here. Getting the win was a good way to honor him. We did get to the free throw line quite a bit and we made most of our free throws. I was impressed with A&T and how they came back but we did things we needed to do to finish the game and get the win.
Dedicated to Gene.
Panther Particulars
John-Michael Wright and Emmanuel Izunabor got the Panthers started right out of the gate in a back and forth opening five minutes scoring four points a piece.
Bryson Childress hit the first three pointer of the game to put the Panthers in front 11-9.
Wright sparked a 10-2 scoring run for the Panthers as he hit back-to-back three pointers to put the purple and white up 27-19.
The Panthers went on a 11-2 run with just minutes remaining in the first half led by John-Michael Wright and Alex Holt.
Wright made a statement in the first half scoring 15 points after scoring just 12 points in the entire game last time out. The Fayetteville native went 4-9 in 20 minutes played inside the Qubein Center in the first half.
The Panthers entered the break leading by a scoring of 42-33, shooting 56% from the field.
The offensive pressure continued from the Panthers in the opening minutes of the second half as Wright, Izunabor and House strung together nine consecutive points to bring the HPU lead to 14.
Wright hits his third three pointer of the night to extend the Panther lead 60-44.
Zack Austin met the ball at the rim to add two points to his eleven point total on the night.
Austin strikes again with a critical dunk in the final minute of regulation that helped lift the Panthers to it's first Big South win of the year. HPU improved to 1-1 in the Big South conference and delivered the Aggies their first conference loss.
The Panthers finished the night shooting 50% from the field for the second consecutive game.
Up Next: The Panthers will continue Big South play on the road on Wednesday (Jan. 19) as they take on Charleston Southern on the road in the low country. Tipoff is set for 7:00 pm.
#OurCityOurUniversity x #GoHPU
