GEORGE TOWN, GRAND CAYMAN, CAYMAN ISLANDS – The High Point University men's basketball team will attend the sixth annual Cayman Islands Classic for the first time in program history, during the week of Nov. 24-26 at the John Gray Gymnasium at George Town, Grand Cayman. The the popular tournament hosted by Caymax Sports Ltd. is just minutes from the world-famous Seven-Mile Beach. The 2024 Cayman Islands Classic announced the eight-team field in June, which includes five teams that reached post-season play, three of which from the 2023 NCAA Tournament. The Panthers will kick-off the tournament with a first time matchup against Missouri State on Sunday, November 24 at 5:00 p.m. ET. 

Men's Basketball - Missouri State University
Sunday, November 24 | 5 p.m. ET | Grand Cayman Islands | John Gray Gymnasium
Watch Live FloSports |  LiveStats | Tournament Info
Cayman Islands Classic

Records: High Point 5-0, MSU 3-1
This will be their first meeting

The Matchup
The Panthers and Bears will meet for the first time in program history on Sunday evening. Missouri State competes in the Missouri Valley Conference and finished the 2023-24 season with an overall record of 17-16 and a conference record of 8-12. Currently, Missouri State is 3-1 after winning the last three games including the most recent win over UT Arlington, 78-68 on Tuesday night. The Bears are led by six players in double-figures, including Dez White (17.3 ppg), Zaxton King (14.3 ppg), Vincent Bradley II (12.5 ppg), Chase Martin (11.3 ppg), Jalen Hampton (10.5) and Michael Osei-Bonsu (10.3 ppg). Osei-Bonsu and Hampton are both averaging over eight rebounds per game. Missouri State is coached by Cuonzo Martin who enters his first season with the program.

Last Time Out
High Point extended its win streak to 5-0, making it the best start in Division I program history with a victory over the visiting Eagles of American University on Monday night. HPU and Longwood are currently leading the Big South with perfect 5-0 starts to the season. In the game against American, the Panthers took the 80-73 win against a very tough Eagles team. High Point was led by Abdoulaye Thiam and D'Maurian Williams with 22 and 21 points respectively after combining for a 66.7% shooting night. Thiam had an outstanding night going 9-for-10 from the field while adding in 4-of-5 free throws. Kimani Hamilton also recorded double-figures with 18 points and a team-high six rebounds. This was HPU's fourth game this season shooting over 50% as a team from the field and 70% from the 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.

Best Start in DI History
The 5-0 start for High Point is the best start in Division I program history since becoming DI in 1999. In 2022-23, High Point started 3-0 before falling to UNLV in mid-November.

Giffa & Bodo Bodo on Lou Henson Watch List
The 2024-25 Lou Henson 'Early Season' Watch list has been announced as two players from the High Point University men's basketball team have earned recognition, Kezza Giffa and Juslin Bodo Bodo. Giffa was named a finalist in 2023-24 for the Lou Henson award after averaging 16.2 points per game, 2.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists.

Four Players Averaging Double-Figures
Four Panthers from the HPU starting lineup are averaging double figures per game, led by D'Maurian Williams with 18.5, Kezza Giffa with 16.8, Kimani Hamilton with 14.2 and Abdoulaye Thiam with 11.0. 

Top 10 - CollegeInsider.com Mid Major Rankings
In the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 rankings, High Point ranks No. 8 in the week two rankings, moving up one spot from the previous two weeks. 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