Spartanburg, S.C. – The High Point Panthers traveled to Wofford College on Saturday afternoon for the team's first road game of the season. Battling close with the Terriers for 40 minutes of action, the Panthers came up short in the final seconds, 99-98.
Site: Jerry Richardson Stadium
Score: High Point 98, Wofford 99
Records: High Point (1-1), Wofford (2-0)
In a game of free throws, the Panthers knocked down 19-of-20 in the first half, led by
Abdoulaye Thiam with a perfect 4-4. HPU was very active on the drive in drawing the fouls as
Kimani Hamilton connected on multiple and-one plays to go along with strong layups from
Kezza Giffa and
Duke Miles.
With six minutes left in the first half the dynamic duo of Miles and
Cade Potter helped the Panthers take a three-point lead. In back-to-back plays, Miles found Potter on the right-side layup, first off a defensive stop with a rim run in transition and the second time in the half court set on a slipped screen action.
A turnaround jumper from Giffa in the paint gave HPU the five-point lead at the break, 51-46.
The second half remained scrappy for both teams. High Point held on to a small lead until the 13-minute mark, when the Terriers hit a three taking their first lead since 5:27 mark in the first half. With just under seven minutes left in the game, Wofford took the largest lead of the day at nine.
The Panthers answered and closed the gap to two at the two-minute mark with jump shots from Miles and Giffa mixed in with a handful of free throws.
Taking it down to the final seconds of the game, Hamilton scored on a floater in the lane with one minute left to keep the Panthers within three. Potter secured the rebound on a missed shot by Wofford, allowing Miles to go down in transition and kiss a shot off the right-side glass to take a one-point lead with six seconds left.
Inbounding the ball on the Terriers far side, Wofford dribbled down and drawled a foul with two seconds left on the clock. Corey Tripp for the Terriers knocked down both free throws to go back up by one. A half-court shot attempt by the Panthers hit the rim as the clock hit zero, resulting in the one-point loss to the Terriers.
High Point finished the game shooting 49.1% (28-57) from the field, 20% (3-15) from three-point range and 81.3% (39-48) from the free throw line. Wofford shot 49.2% (32-65) from the field, 38.7% (12-31) from the three-point line and 63.9% (23-36) from the line. HPU capitalized on getting to the line and making their free throws with the clock stopped but the Terriers were able to make up for it with the outside shot.
UP NEXT:
High Point remains on the road for a matchup at Queens University in Charlotte, North Carolina. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM.
#GoHPU
