George Town, Cayman Islands – In the final game at the Cayman Islands Classic the High Point University Panthers played Hampton University on Tuesday afternoon. Taking it down to the final seconds, Bobby Pettiford found a way to score the last second shot and help the Panthers take the 76-73 win.
 
Site: John Gray High School Gym
Score: High Point 76, Hampton 73
Records: High Point (6-1), Hampton (3-5)
 
Throughout the game, High Point attacked the paint and moved the ball well around the perimeter, allowing for open three-pointers. Chase Johnston started the game hot, knocking down three threes in the first seven minutes of the game.
 
By knocking down outside shots, the Panthers extended the Pirates defense out on the perimeter to open up the lane. The big men got in on the action as Josh Ibukunoluwa rolled off a pick and roll for a dunk to put HPU up 16-9 at the 14:20 mark. Five minutes later, Juslin Bodo Bodo went up strong to get the and-one and keep the Panthers in the lead by seven points at 24-17.
 
With seven minutes and 46 seconds to go in the first half, Hampton had cut the game to two points at 24-22 with a jump shot. The Pirates closed the gap to one-point at the five-minute mark but Kezza Giffa and D'Maurian Williams helped press the lead back to six on three straight possessions. The big defensive stops generated momentum which was followed up by a Trae Benham three to extend the lead to eight with a minute to go in the half.
 
High Point led at the half, 38-33.
 
The Panthers maintained the lead in the second half, but Hampton made it challenging.
 
Five minutes into the second half, Hamilton got the momentum going with a put back from an offensive board. In the next possession Giffa found Hamilton running on the backside for an alley-oop to force an early timeout for the Pirates.
 
Hampton closed it back to a one possession game at 46-43 with 13 minutes to go. Bodo Bodo put back in a dunk and Benham knocked down his third three of the game right in front of the HPU bench at the 12:54 mark to make it 51-45.
 
Hampton kept the game interesting after hitting fade away step back threes to stay close.
 
Benham hit his fourth three of the game from the opposite wing at the eight-minute mark followed by another Bodo Bodo slam.
 
With six minutes left to go in the game, Benham was fouled on a three point shot in the corner. He cashed in all three foul shots to give the Panthers a three-point lead, 61-59.
 
Pettiford came in clutch in the final minutes of the game. He found Hamilton on the backside for a three-point shot to extend HPU's lead to four with two and a half minutes left on the clock.
 
Hampton knocked down two free throws with 35 seconds left to come within two points of the Panthers. The Pirates fouled immediately and sent High Point to the line to shoot one-and-one foul shots. Missing the shot, Hampton came down the court and knocked in a three to take a one-point lead at 73-72 with 26 seconds to go.
 
With no timeouts, HPU came down the court and put the ball into the hands of Pettiford. Driving left, Pettiford floated it over his defender and kissed it off the glass to take back the lead at 74-73. Playing solid defense, the Panthers kept the Pirates from scoring in the final seconds as Benham knocked down two free throws to help seal the deal.
 
Giffa was named to the Cayman Islands Classic All-Tournament team.
 
UP NEXT:
High Point will host Pfeiffer University on Saturday, November 30 for a 2:00 p.m. matchup at the Qubein Center.