Charleston, S.C. – High Point men's basketball made the long journey south to take on the Buccaneers of Charleston Southern for the second match-up this season on Saturday afternoon. HPU took care of business and clinched at least a share of the Big South Conference regular season title with the 74-59 victory.
Kezza Giffa,
Abdoulaye Thiam, and
Juslin Bodo Bodo led the way each scoring double figures. Giffa went 5-for-14 from the field and 9-for-10 from the line to drop 20 points. Thiam registered 16 points driving to the paint going 7-for-12 from the field. Bodo Bodo collected a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
"I am proud of our teams' effort on the defensive end today," Head Coach
Alan Huss said. "Our front-line guys did an excellent job limiting post touches and our pick and roll defense was solid for most of the game. We are excited to get home and turn our attention to a hungry Winthrop team that dominated us for most of our first game."
Site: Buc Dome
Score: High Point 74, Charleston Southern 59
Records: High Point (23-6. 12-2), Charleston Southern (9-18, 5-9)
It was a slow start for both teams on the offensive ends. After tying the game at 11 all at the 11:33 mark, High Point went on a 6-0 run to go up 17-11 with layups from Thiam and Bodo Bodo.
Two three-point baskets tied the game back at 17 all with nine minutes to go in the first half.
After exchanging baskets back-and-forth, a lay-up from Giffa gave High Point a 30-26 lead with 2:28 to go.
In the last minute of the first half, the Buccaneers went 1-for-2 from the line to take a 33-31 lead at the break.
With work to do in the second half, the Panthers turned up the heat.
Kimani Hamilton opened the second half with a poster dunk from the right block.
Fueling the fire and creating more energy, Thiam drove down the left side in front on HPU's bench and pivoted to get the and-one foul and make it 41-35.
The Panthers extended their lead to 10 with a second chance lay-up from Bodo Bodo with 13:12 to go.
Charleston Southern closed the gap to seven with 10 minutes left to go in the game but High Point never let the Buccaneers get any closer.
High Point stretched the lead to 18 making it the teams largest lead of the game with two minutes to go after
Duke Miles dropped in a two-point field goal.
Giffa scored the last field goal for the Panthers for the 74-59 win.
Up Next:
High Point returns home to host Winthrop on Wednesday February 28 for Senior Night at the Qubein Center. The game is set to tip-off at 7:00 p.m.
#GoHPU
