Box Score Jacksonville, Fla. – The High Point men's basketball team returned to Florida to play the University of North Florida Ospreys in a Saturday afternoon bout. After a roller coaster of a game between the two teams, the Panthers executed in the final minutes, taking home the 86-79 win.
 
"Our team showed a tremendous amount of grit today," Head Coach Alan Huss said. "We had a number of players step up and make winning plays at crucial times. We cannot wait to get back home and begin preparing for an undefeated Western Carolina team."
 
Site: UNF Arena
Score: High Point 86, North Florida 79
Records: High Point (5-3), North Florida
 
High Point had a steady first half of action. Taking an early lead, HPU went up 11-6 in the opening six minutes of play. The Ospreys tied the game at 16 all before tying it on four other occasions.
 
A large factor in the first half was the rebounding difference. High Point out rebounded UNF 22-12, registering 10 offensive rebounds. Cade Potter and Trae Benham each picked up five rebounds in the first.
 
The Panthers pushed the pace and put up 10 more shot attempts from the field than the Ospreys the only difference was, North Florida knocked down three more three-pointers to help keep them in the game.
 
The second half did not have the start that the Panthers wanted. The Ospreys knocked down 5-for-8 from three-point range to take a 52-45 lead.
 
Three straight transition breaks for High Point led to a 6-0 run for the Panthers, tying the game at 55 all with a steal and lay-up from Kimani Hamilton.

Steal ?? easy transition bucket ??

Hamilton ties the game 55-55!#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/hjFnCIxRwd

— HPU Men's Basketball (@HPUMBB) December 2, 2023

 
High Point made an 8-0 run late in the second half, taking the largest lead of the game at 71-63. Kezza Giffa sparked the energy with an and-one finish as the shot clock was winding down.

Giffa gets the AND-1?? with the shot clock winding down ??#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/IKipRI8f4G

— HPU Men's Basketball (@HPUMBB) December 2, 2023

 
The Ospreys returned and answer with a 5-0 run to cut the game back to one possession with under five minutes left to go in the game. North Florida missed multiple free throws late in the game which could have been a result of the Panthers fast pace runs.
 
Up by six with a minute and a half to go, the Panthers managed the clock. Giffa and Miles knocked down big time free throws to keep HPU in the lead and take home the 86-79 win.
 
In the end, High Point out rebounded North Florida 37-20 and went 18-25 form the line compared to the Opsreys 13-19.
 
Up Next:
High Point welcomes Western Carolina to the Qubein Center on Tuesday, December 5^th for a 7:00 pm match up.