HIGH POINT, N.C. – High Point University men's basketball opened the 2024-25 Big South Conference season on live television against Radford University on Thursday night inside the Qubein Center. Stretching out to a large lead, the Panthers made a statement early and pressed on for a 76-58 win over the Highlanders.
Site: Qubein Center
Score: High Point 76, Radford 58
Records: High Point (13-3, 1-0), Radford (10-6, 0-1)
High Point carried over the three-point shooting momentum from the game before, knocking down 13 threes as a team making it the fifth game this season with 10+ made threes. The distribution around the perimeter was spread out with five players collecting at least two three-pointers a piece.
Radford took its first and only lead of the game in the first two minutes following the tip-off, going up 5-2. HPU quickly tied the game and set out on a trek to take the lead. After a handful of put backs inside the paint, High Point found range on the perimeter and knocked down three threes in four possessions to take a 10-point lead, 25-15 at the 7:44 mark.
HPU took advantage of steals and second chance opportunities. An offensive rebound from
Kimani Hamilton gave
Kezza Giffa a chance to knock down his second three of the night and make it 30-16 with five minutes to go in the first half. Hamilton and
Chase Johnston helped High Point extend its lead to 18-point in the first half at the 2:24 mark with a pair of back-to-back threes.
The Panthers closed out the first half with a 36-23 lead, the team's 10th game this season holding a lead at the half.
High Point kept it rolling in the second half as Hamilton threw down the first dunk of the game off a steal picked up by Johnston for the long kick out pass and two-handed jam.
Just before the 13-minute mark,
Trae Benham showed off his deep range with a logo shot to put the Panthers back up by 18 at 49-31. Two minutes later High Point hit the 20-point lead mark with a jumper inside the lane from
Bobby Pettiford.
D'Maurian Williams scored a quick five points in back-to-back possessions with a layup and a three give the Panthers their largest lead of the game, 61-36 with 9:17 to go in the second half. High Point coasted through the final minutes of the game as
Abdoulaye Thiam drove in for the final basket of the night for the Panthers and the 76-58 victory.
High Point was able to hold Radford's Jarvis Moss to just seven points after averaging 15+ points per game. HPU capitalized on second chance points, totaling 21 to the Highlanders' 12 by securing 14 offensive rebounds. Along with knocking down the outside shot, the Panthers picked up 16 points off the fast break with the help of 10 steals led by Hamilton with four steals himself.
UP NEXT:
High Point will have a quick turnaround for a game at UNC Asheville on Saturday January 4 at 2:00 p.m. in Asheville, N.C.
#GoHPU x #OnTheProwl
