HIGH POINT, N.C. - The Panthers' monstrous 53 first-half points helped push the High Point University men's basketball team past Gardner-Webb University, 96-55, on Saturday night. The 41-point win is HPU's largest margin of victory over a Big South Conference opponent in program history.
"Obviously pleased with the outcome. Our guys were really hooked up to start the game. Defensively we were in the gaps. We made them make extra plays and extra passes. They obviously just did not have their best stuff tonight, and on top of that we made some threes in the first half and pulled away from them a little bit," said Head Coach
Alan Huss. "I was pleased in the second half that we continued to fight and stay process-oriented, and we pulled a way a little bit, a little bit further which is a big deal for us to put two halves together."
Site: Qubein Center
Score: High Point 96, Gardner-Webb 55
Records: High Point (15-4, 3-1), Gardner-Webb (7-10, 2-2)
It was a quick start for HPU as
Chase Johnston made his way to the bucket with a running floater for two points.
Kezza Giffa led the fast-paced offense up the court as he dished the ball off to Johnston from downtown for his second and the team's second basket of the game.
Trae Benham splashed down a triple after
Bobby Pettiford found him open on the right wing. It was a shooting clinic for Benham as he could not miss from beyond the arc, knocking down back-to-back-to-back triples to push the Panthers' lead to over double-digits, 30-14, with 9:45 remaining in the first half.
Benahm was not the only one providing offense for HPU as
Abdoulaye Thiam drilled a three-pointer on the next trip down the court. HPU converted its seventh and eighth three-pointers of the half after
Kimani Hamilton and Johnston knocked down a pair.
Pettiford got himself in the action as he converted another Panthers three-point attempt to advance HPU's lead, 47-23. He closed out the first-half with a turnaround jumper as time expired to give the Panthers an enormous 30-point lead, 53-23 at the half.
Benham led the way at halftime with 12 points thanks to his four, first-half three-pointers.
Hamilton battled his was inside the paint for two points to give HPU's its first points of the second-half.
Pettiford got the crowd on their feet after he forced a steal on the defensive end, leading to him throwing down a left-handed slam on the other end.
Johnston's hot-hand from beyond the three-point line continued as he recorded his fourth three-pointer of the game to give him 16 points in the game and an 81-46 lead for the Panthers.
David Fonville checked in the game and immediately delivered on the scoring end for HPU as he made his first career three-point field goal from the corner. HPU's three-point prowess continued as
Titas Sargiunas joined in on the fun, splashing down a triple from the left wing to give HPU a 43-point lead, 91-48.
"We are designed to make shots from the outside. We give up some size and athleticism at positions so we can shoot the basketball," said Huss. "We got guys that can really spread the court and when we are unselfish we can create some high-value opportunities.
Andrew Sineway buried a basket late with 22 seconds remaining to close out the game for the Panthers and give HPU its third Big South victory of the season, 96-55. Four Panthers finished in double-figures as Johnston led the way in scoring with a game-high 16 points on 4-5 shooting from the three-point line and 6-7 overall from the court. Benham added 12, Pettiford finished with 11, and D'maurian Williams scored 10 points.
Abdoulaye Thiam recorded eight points which helped him surpass his 1000th career total point.
UP NEXT: The Panthers will travel to Farmville, VA to face off against Longwood University on Thursday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. on ESPNU.
#GoHPU x #OnTheProwl
