High Point, N.C. – The High Point men's basketball team hosted Canisius College on Friday night for a first-time meeting between the teams in program history. After a close battle for the full 40 minutes of action, the Panthers came out victorious with a 78-70 win.
The Panthers recorded the team's 10th win in non-conference this season which marks the most non-conference wins in program history in Division I era.
"It's a credit to our players," Head Coach
Alan Huss stated. "It's a credit to all the freshman who are playing against guys who are a lot older than them and a credit to the guys who are new or returning for coming in and accepting roles and deciding that winning is more important than individual glory."
Site: Qubein Center
Score: High Point 78, Canisius 70
Records: High Point (10-4), Canisius (6-6, 1-1 MAAC)
In the opening frames of the game, HPU trailed as the Golden Griffons extended on a seven-point lead in the first eight minutes. Two trips to the paint and a transition three thrown ahead from
Duke Miles to
Trae Benham tied the game at 19 all, just two minutes after being down by seven.
From there the game stayed close as both teams exchanged the lead back-and-forth. A lay-up and free-throw from
Kimani Hamilton put the Panthers up by three at the half.
"We regrouped there after we got punched in the mouth a little early and we found a way to be tough enough down the stretch," Huss added. "Obviously, we have to take care of the basketball, that's something we've been trying to do as a program since I arrived here on campus. We didn't live up to that standard as far as ball security goes tonight."
High Point held on to the lead in the second half, only allowing the Golden Griffons to take a one-point lead for one possession. A big factor in the Panthers success in the second half came from defensive stops which led to offensive baskets.
For a four-minute stretch, the Panthers were able to knock down three threes, one from Miles,
Kezza Giffa and Benham to help build the momentum HPU needed.
"The fact that we can go out there against a team that is as efficient as Canisius and get the stops we needed and the rebounds we needed," Huss commented, "speaks a lot to the character of our guys, and their ability to overcome some adversity and buy-in to a defensive mindset."
Juslin Bodo Bodo recorded his first double-double of his career, notching 10 points and 10 rebounds in his 28 minutes of playing time.
"Juslin's ability to be such a presence back there I thought really turned Canisius into a jump shot shooting team," Huss stated. "He only blocked two shots tonight, but he bothers everything down there at the block. There are so many times where we get clipped on a screen and he just gets his hands up and they throw it out of bounds, or they don't complete the play. Those types of plays are not measured on a stat sheet, but they are equally as important.
With two minutes left in the game, HPU went up by six after Miles swished in two free throws. A turnover by Canisius created a fastbreak opportunity which led to a Bodo Bodo dunk thrown up by Hamilton. A three pointer from the Golden Griffons cut the game back to five with 1:03 left to go.
A foul by Canisius sent Giffa to the line where he hit one out of two free throws. The Golden Griffons secured the rebound with just a two-possession game. Hamilton came up big blocking the three-point shot taken by Tre Dinkins.
Canisius had to foul again which sent Miles to the line for two. Knocking down both shots, he put the icing on the cake with an eight-point lead and the 78-70 win.
Up Next:
High Point has a week off from games through the Holiday break and will return to action on December 30
th against Bellarmine. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. following the women's game.
#GoHPU
