HIGH POINT, N.C. - The High Point men's basketball team came up short in overtime, 80-79, on Saturday afternoon in the Hercules TIres Big South Tournament semifinals, despite a game-high 32 points from Kezza Giffa and 15 points from Duke Miles.
 
Site: Qubein Center
Score: High Point 79, Longwood 80
Records: High Point (25-8, 13-3), Longwood (20-13, 6-10)
 
Head Coach Alan Huss: "Credit to Longwood. They were the most connected, more physical, tougher basketball team today. It was an extremely physical game… Right from the jump they got a foul on Bodo which really changed the complexion of the game. I thought they were really aggressive, they threw the ball inside… I do not want to take anything away from Longwood, they came in here in a really hostile environment. Our fans did their part, everybody but coach Huss did their part… They got us in a ton of foul trouble and we did not execute with some different lineups on the floor at the end of the game so credit to Longwood. I am really disappointed for my guys because it is really difficult to put together special seasons like this. It is really difficult to find these groups and to keep these groups together. It is just the magic that gets created to get you to these points. It is hard to recreate year in and year out. I hope that this group stays together and we have opportunities in the future to redeem ourselves."
 
Miles put the Panthers on the board after rattling down a pair of three-pointers to give HPU an early 6-1 lead.
 

Miles finding the long shot early ??#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/6DMWEaHZL0

— HPU Men's Basketball (@HPUMBB) March 9, 2024

 
A steal from Kimani Hamilton led to him finding Juslin Bodo Bodo up the court for a rim- shaking two-handed slam.
 

Bodo Bodo slam #?1? of the day!#BigSouthMBB | @HPUMBB pic.twitter.com/0IigeyhhNe

— Big South Conference (@BigSouthSports) March 9, 2024

 
Titas Sargiunas gave the Panthers a 22-18 lead with six minutes remaining in the first half after drilling a triple from the corner.
 

Let it FLY 7?? ??#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/1EC5aFCGFg

— HPU Men's Basketball (@HPUMBB) March 9, 2024

 
Denzel Hines checked into the game and provided an immediate scoring impact off the bench as he drained a three-pointer. Back-to-back three-pointers, the team's fifth and sixth of the half, from Giffa and Trae Benham gave HPU its largest lead of the game, 34-24, with 1:51 left to play before the halftime break.
 

Just doing what they do best ??

Cashing in from DEEP ??#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/owamiar598

— HPU Men's Basketball (@HPUMBB) March 9, 2024

 
High Point headed into halftime with a 36-29 lead as Giffa led the way in scoring for the Panthers with 13 points off the bench. A tough turnaround jumper from Miles gave him his third bucket of the game and the team's first points of the half.
 
Benham and Thiam knocked down a pair of buckets from beyond the arc to give HPU its largest lead of the game, 44-32. Giffa attacked the basket for two points to advance HPU's lead to 15 points, 50-35, with 14:25 remaining in the second half.
 
Miles stayed perfect from beyond the arc as he sank his third three-pointer of the game. Miles' tremendous shooting continued as he drained a wide-open three-pointer to push HPU's lead to seven points, 65-58, with 3:47 remaining in the second half.
 
Trailing by two points with 42 seconds left in the game, Bodo made a clutch game-tying layup to send the game to an overtime period with the team's all tied up at 69 points. Longwood was forced to call a timeout after Giffa hit a much needed, side-step, three-pointer to give HPU a one-point advantage, 76-75, with 1:57 left in overtime. A last second basket from the Panthers would not be enough as HPU fell in overtime 80-79.
 
Giffa finished with a game-high 32 points after shooting 8-16 from the court overall and a perfect 14-14 from the free-throw line.
 
"I am pleased for him [Giffa] that he has had the personal success that he has had just because it is hard to find a guy that is talented number one, that will even talk about coming off the bench and embrace it… he plays with joy, he plays with thankfulness, he plays with passion all the time. He never let the bench, or the minutes role or the different roles bother him. He just came out and played every night so I am proud of him," said Huss.
 
Miles added 15 points and Hamilton had a game-high 10 rebounds including six offensive rebounds.
 
High Point finishes its terrific season with an overall record of 25-8 and 13-3 in Big South conference play.
 
"I know our guys are pretty heartbroken right now but I can also tell you that we all recognize it has been a special year. We were picked seventh. We have 11 new scholarship players on this team. One guy that played a significant role on the team last year. Even in the world of 2024 where there is so much change in college basketball, it is impressive the way this group has come together," said Huss.