Athens, Ga. – For the first time since the 2015-16 season, High Point men's basketball traveled to Athens, Georgia to play at the University of Georgia. The Panthers gave the Bulldogs a run but after leading through the first half, HPU came up short in the end, 66-58.
"Credit to Coach White and a really talented and disciplined Georgia defense," Head Coach
Alan Huss stated. "Their ability to change their defensive looks and keep us off balance offensively was really the difference in the game tonight. They are truly an elite defensive team and a team that I'm sure we are going to see playing in March."
Site: Stegeman Coliseum
Score: High Point 66, Georgia 58
Records: High Point (8-4), Georgia (7-3)
High Point opened the game making a statement. Leading through 18 minutes of the first half, the Panthers dominated in multiple areas of the game, making their presence known inside Stegeman.
High Point was led by
Trae Benham and
Kimani Hamilton in the first 20 minutes of action. Hamilton opened the game hot with nine points after knocking down two threes. Feeding off Hamilton, Benham had a breakout half, cashing in three threes and going 6-for-6 from the line after getting fouled from deep range shots.
HPU took the team's largest lead of the night at 20-10 with 8:34 left to go in the half. Georgia closed the gap before the break to make it 33-30, HPU.
High Point out rebounded the Bulldogs in the first, 27-17. The Panthers collected 11 points off second chance opportunities after bringing down 15 offensive rebounds to UGA's one.
At the start of the second half, Benham knocked down his fourth three of the night and put the Panthers back up by seven. After being up by eight with just under 15 minutes to go, the momentum took a shift as the Bulldogs went on a 7-0 run to make it 43-42.
After dropping the lead,
Kezza Giffa kept the Panthers within one point at 51-50 with a quick three from the corner off a skip pass from the top by
Duke Miles.
Georgia extended the lead to seven with 2:22 to go. A deep three from Miles cut the game back to two possessions at 61-56 with 2:04 left on the clock. In the end HPU could not make up the difference trading basket for basket and came up short 66-58.
Benham finished with 18 points and six rebounds, Miles with 15 points, three rebounds and two assists while Hamilton had another double-double securing 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Juslin Bodo Bodo had a career night on the boards, leading the team with 15.
Up Next:
High Point begins a three-game home stand on Tuesday, December 16 with a match up with another crosstown rival, UNC Greensboro from the Southern Conference. Tip-off is set for 7:00 pm.
#GoHPU
