Boiling Springs, N.C. – The High Point University men's basketball team took another trip to the west side of the state for the second matchup with Gardner-Webb. Bouncing back from Wednesday nights road loss, the Panthers defeated the Runnin' Bulldogs, 78-62 on Saturday afternoon.
Juslin Bodo Bodo had a day, registering his third double-double of the season and second consecutive, he scored a career-high 18 points with 16 rebounds. The freshman threw down four dunks throughout the game.
Along with Bodo Bodo, four other players scored in double figures, including
Kimani Hamilton,
Abdoulaye Thiam and
Kezza Giffa with 15 each and
Duke Miles with 10.
"Our guys showed a tremendous amount of poise and grit in clawing back from a double digit deficit in a difficult road environment," Head Coach
Alan Huss said. "We are excited to get back home next week for two games at the Qubein Center."
Site: Paul Porter Arena
Score: High Point 78, Gardner-Webb 62
Records: High Point (21-5, 9-1), Gardner-Webb (11-14, 6-4)
High Point trailed through most of the first half, going down by as many as 12 points with eight minutes left in the half. The Panthers struggled to get shots inside the paint to fall as many of them rimmed or rolled out.
HPU continued to grind and went on an 11-0 run within a three-minute span. Miles contributed to eight of the 11 points while Giffa made his three foul shots from a three-point foul count.
Before the end of the half, High Point closed the gap to four, 36-32 with a dunk from Bodo Bodo.
The Panthers were not messing around in the second half and took the lead early, going up by one in the first 2.5 minutes of action off a three-point shot from Thiam.
The Runnin' Bulldogs tied the game twice at 41 all with 14 minutes left and 48 all with 11 minutes to go.
After the fourth tied score at 52 all with eight minutes to go, High Point found the momentum and stretched on a 7-1 run with baskets from Hamilton, Thiam and Bodo Bodo.
Helping stretch the lead to 11 in the final three minutes of the game, Giffa went 6-for-6 from the line. Forcing Gardner-Webb to foul at the end, High Point extended the lead to 16 with two free throws and a three from Hamilton.
Up Next:
High Point returns home next week for two matchups inside the Qubein Center. The Panthers welcome USC Upstate Wednesday for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off.
#GoHPU
