HIGH POINT, N.C. - High Point men's basketball traveled to Gardner-Webb for an afternoon matchup to start the second half of conference play. The Panthers were not able to maintain the Runnin' Bulldogs on the defensive end and fell 58-86. Jaden House led HPU with 20 points while Alex Holt collected a team-high seven rebounds.  

Site: Paul Porter Arena
Score: High Point 58, Gardner-Webb 86
Records: High Point (10-11, 2-8) Gardner-Webb (11-11, 6-4)
 
Opening the game, Abdoulaye Thiam converted on two jump shots while Bryson Childress grabbed a deep three to tally the Panthers first seven points of the game.
 

Panthers 1?st THREE of the game??#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/yYAvEb2e2a

— HPU Men's Basketball (@HPUMBB) January 28, 2023

 
House followed up Childress' deep three with another one from behind the arc to make it 10-11, Runnin' Bulldogs.
 
Extending to a nine-point lead, Sam Perez knocked down a pull-up mid-range jumper off a pass from House to make it 14-21. 
 

Perez knocks down the pull-?? jumper#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/tF48nP5F5J

— HPU Men's Basketball (@HPUMBB) January 28, 2023

 
Down 17 with five minutes left in the first half, baskets from Thiam and House kept High Point within 13. Gardner-Webb kept their momentum pushing and stretched to a 20 point lead at the break.
 

Great execution on the inbounds play??#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/nVVJ608Hgb

— HPU Men's Basketball (@HPUMBB) January 28, 2023

 
At the start of the second half, Zack Austin slammed down a dunk after beating his defender baseline with a hard drive.
 

Austin opens the half with a DUNK??#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/HlYzKomrvU

— HPU Men's Basketball (@HPUMBB) January 28, 2023

 
The Runnin' Bulldogs advanced to a 23-point lead with just under 15 minutes to play in regulation. The Panthers kept battling and chipped away to bring it back within 15 off a Childress three to make it 45-60 GWU.
 

@BrysonChildres3 for 3?#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/hJzL0ep6Aj

— HPU Men's Basketball (@HPUMBB) January 28, 2023

 
High Point extended their pressure to full court to try to get easy stops in the back court, but the Runnin' Bulldogs took care of the ball and converted on their offensive end.
 
The Panthers ended the game shooting 50.0% from the field (22-for-44), 33..3% from the three point line (7-21) and 41.2% from the free throw line (7-17). The Runnin' Bulldogs shot 54.7% from the field (35-64), 35.0% from the three (7-20) and 60.0% from the free throw line (9-15). Overall, GWU took 20 more shot attempts than HPU scoring 32 more points inside the paint. 
 
Up Next: The Panthers will stay on the road for a trip to UNC Asheville on Thursday, February 2^nd at 7:00 pm for their ESPN U game.