HIGH POINT, N.C. – It was an electric opening night inside the Qubein Center for the High Point Panthers. Cruising to a 105-51 victory over the visiting St. Andrews University Knights, HPU did it in record-breaking fashion to earn Head Coach
Alan Huss' first official win as the new leader for the purple and white.
High Point broke a team program shooting record in the second half of the game. Knocking down 21 total three-pointers as a team, the Panthers broke the previous record of 15 three-pointers as a team that was set in 2007, 2011, and most recently in 2012. The three-point snipe team was led by
Abdoulaye Thiam with four, while
Justin Taylor and
Bryson Childress added three apiece.
"Finally, our fans got to see a little bit of what we have been working on for the last few months," Coach Huss stated. "A team that really shares the ball, a team that really passes the ball and a team that really spreads it out. We settled down a little bit and I really thought we moved the basketball around for a good stretch in the second half and that is the way it is supposed to look. I am very pleased with the guys for that."
Site: Qubein Center
Score: High Point 105, St. Andrews 51
Records: High Point (1-0), St. Andrews (1-0)
A big factor in creating the easy offense for the Panthers started on the defensive end. Forcing 15 turnovers by the Knights and securing 61 rebounds as a team (tied program record) High Point was able to convert the defensive stops into offensive points.
"Defensively, I thought we did a much better job of having our gap principles in place and the keeping the integrity of our defense," Coach Huss commented. "Our shell got fractured a few times, but we made additional efforts to make sure that we didn't give up super easy shots in those situations."
HPU opened the night with high energy going on a 9-0 lead from the jump. What looked like an alley-oop dunk fest in the first half led to a momentum carry for a 46-24 lead at the break.
The Panthers knocked down eight three-pointers in the first half, stringing together three threes in three straight possessions during two stretches. Taylor knocked in back-to-back threes with two minutes left in the first half after a spot up three from
Titas Sarguinas on a pass from
Cade Potter.
The three-point shot really heated up for the Panthers in the second half, cashing in 13 of the 21 from all areas around the arc. Thiam, Childress, and Taylor along with
Trae Benham,
Denzel Hines, and
AJ Hoynack, all contributed to the success from deep range. A kick out from Benham to Hines with just over seven minutes left in the second half was the three-pointer that broke the program record (16). There was no stopping the Panthers with all the excitement in the arena, as the team went on to knock down five more threes.
High Point shared the ball well with 28 total assists, led by
Kezza Giffa with nine. The Panthers shot 47.2% from the field and 44.7% from beyond the arc, collecting 35 fast break points and 26 points in the paint.
"Overall, we just shared the basketball, and I think the guys will tell you that they had a lot more fun playing tonight," Coach Huss added.
UP NEXT:
High Point will hit the road for the first road match of the season at Wofford on Saturday, November 11 for an early game at 12:00pm.
#GoHPU
