Asheville, N.C. – The High Point University men's basketball team traveled west to face the No. 2 team in the Big South Conference, UNC Asheville. Taking it down to the final minutes, the Bulldogs took the edge over the Panthers 86-81.
High Point was led by
Kimani Hamilton with a career-high 29 points and five rebounds before fouling out at the end of the game.
Abdoulaye Thiam contributed in points after going 5-for-10 from the field and 7-for-8 from the line to score 19.
Juslin Bodo Bodo registered his second double-double of the season with 10 points and 18 rebounds, recording the third most rebounds in a single-game in program history.
Site: Kimmel Arena
Score: High Point 81, UNC Asheville 86
Records: High Point (20-5, 9-1), UNC Asheville (16-9, 8-2)
Hamilton started the game off hot for the Panthers, scoring six of HPU's first 10 points. Finding a lull at the 10-point mark, the Bulldogs stretched their lead to 10 at 20-10.
Mid-way through the first half, the Panthers were able to close the game back to within two points after going down by 12.
A two-point field goal inside the paint from Hamilton tied the game at 30 all with 5:23 to go before the break. Bodo Bodo tied the game a second time at 32 all with a put back on a second chance opportunity.
UNC Asheville was able to gain separation going into halftime with a 42-34 lead.
High Point returned to the floor in the second half focused. A three pointer from Thiam on the wing put the Panthers back in reach to trail by one, 48-47, just three minutes into the second half.
Up until the four-minute mark, the score never broke within a five-point swing. HPU trailed by six with 3:53 to go but a foul drawn by Thiam on a three-point shot sent him to the line for three. Knocking down all three, High Point trailed 76-73.
With 1:42 left on the clock,
Duke Miles drove through the lane and scored a bucket to make it 80-77. Forcing UNC Asheville's Drew Pember to miss a jump shot on the Panthers defensive end, High Point was unable to connect on multiple shot attempts on the offensive end.
High Point was forced to foul with under a minute left on the clock which resulted in the Bulldogs extending the lead, 84-77. Giffa connected on two layups down the stretch, but it was not enough to give HPU the advantage, falling 86-81 in the end.
Up Next:
High Point travels to Gardner-Webb University on Saturday February 10 for a matchup with the Runnin' Bulldogs at 1:00 p.m.
#GoHPU
