HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University men's basketball team welcomes the University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers to the Qubein Center for the first meeting between the two teams in program history. Tip off is set for 7:00 p.m. and students will receive a light up cowboy hat when doors open at 5:30 p.m.
High Point vs. UAB
Friday, November 15 | 7 p.m. | High Point, N.C. | Qubein Center
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Western Night
Records: High Point 3-0, UAB 2-1
This will be their first meeting
The Matchup
The Panthers and Blazers will meet for the first time in program history on Friday night. UAB competes in the American Athletic Conference and finished the 2023-24 season with an overall record of 23-12, a conference record of 12-6 and were crowned the AAC Tournament Champions to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Blazers return their 2023-24 AAC Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-AAC recipient, Yaxel Lendeborg who was named to three preseason watch lists ahead of the 2024-25 season including; the Jersey Mike's Naismith Men's College Player of the Year Watch List, the Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 Watch List and the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Preseason Watch List. Lendeborg currently leads the team averaging 21.7 points and 9.3 rebounds. UAB is 2-1, picking up wins over Southern Miss and Southeastern Louisiana with the lone loss to Vermont by five. UAB is coached by Andy Kennedy, a graduate of UAB who enter his fifth season with the program.
Last Time Out
High Point picked up its third win of the season with a victory over N.C. Central on Tuesday night, 76-60. The Panthers were led by a different starter,
Kezza Giffa who dropped 24 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals.
Juslin Bodo Bodo registered his first double-double of the season with 11 points and 12 boards, earning half of his points at the free throw line after going 5-for-6. Through the first three games, High Point is averaging 83.0 points per game on 54.0% shooting from the field, 44.8% from the three-point line and 78.1% from the free throw line.
Notable Player & Team Notes
Returning eight players from last year's roster, the Panthers added 12 newcomers with six transfers and six freshmen. The reigning Big South Regular Season Champions are ready to jump back into full action after a historic 27-win season led by first-year Head Coach
Alan Huss in 2023-24.
Four Players Averaging Double-Figures
In the first three games of the season, High Point has been led by a different player each game. Chase Johnston dropped 31 points in the season opener, D'Maurian Williams had 22 points in game two and Kezza Giffa dropped 24 points in the mid-week matchup with NCC
Top 10 - CollegeInsider.com Mid Major Rankings
In the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 rankings, High Point ranks No. 9 for the second week in a row. The Panthers highest spot in the rankings last season was 9th.
Bracketeer.com Preseason All-American Awards
In the Bracketeer's Preseason All-American Watch List Kimani Hamilton was named a First Team recipient while Kezza Giffa was named to the second team.
Preseason Polls
On October 15th, the Big South Conference announced the Preseason Men's Basketball Poll for the upcoming 2024-25 season. High Point University was picked to finish 1st in the poll, while Kezza Giffa was named the Preseason Player of the Year, while Kimani Hamilton & Juslin Bodo Bodo were named to the first team.
HPU Stat Rankings Following 2023-24 Season
-9th in NCAA in PPG (83.9)
-1st in NCAA in Free Throws Made (20.1)
-6th in NCAA in Free Throws Attempted (25.8)
-15th in NCAA in Free Throw % (77.8)
-16th in NCAA in Rebounds (40.00)
-25th in NCAA in Win % (75%)
-Highest National Kenpom Ranking in Program History (114th)
-Highest National NET Ranking in Program History (110th)
-8th in Kenpom Raw Offensive Efficiency
-10th in Kenpom Offensive Rebound %
2023-24 Regular Season CHAMPS
HPU was named the outright Big South regular season champs for the first time since 2015-16. This was HPU's 5th Big South Regular-Season Title and the 2nd outright title.
2023-24 Season Recorded Most Wins in D1 Era
With a record of 27-9, the Panthers set the record for the most wins in a single-season.
2023-24 Season Was the Most Wins by a First-Year Head Coach
Coach Huss won the most wins as a first-year head coach in the entirety of the men's basketball program history. Also registered the most wins by a rookie head coach in the country last season.
Bodo Bodo Awards
Juslin bodo Bodo was named a National Freshman of the Year and a Kyle Macy Freshman of the Year Finalist in 2023-24.
Lou Henson Award Finalist
Giffa was named a Lou Henson Award Finalist in 2023-24.
2023-24 Big South Postseason Awards
Head Coach Alan Huss was named the Big South Coach of the Year becoming the 2nd coach in program history to earn the award (Scott Cherry). Duke Miles was named the Big South Newcomer of the Year and Juslin Bodo Bodo was named the Defensive and Freshman Player of the Year. Duke Miles, Kimani Hamilton & Kezza Giffa were named to the First Team All-Conference selections while Juslin Bodo Bodo and Titas Sargiunas were named to the All-Freshman team.
#GoHPU x #OnTheProwl
