HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University men's basketball team battled Southern Illinois down to the final seconds on Wednesday night in the Qubein Center, but the Panthers saw their four-game win streak come to an end as HPU fell 86-84.
It was the second-ever matchup between the Panthers and the Salukis, and the first time they faced off in the Qubein Center as the two met last season in a game that the Panthers won, 94-81.
Terry Anderson was excellent from start to finish as he recorded 21 points and 10 rebounds, including three offensive boards for his first double-double in an HPU jersey.
Rob Martin finished with 20 points, 16 of those coming in the first half for his third game this season scoring at least 20 points and his sixth game scoring in double-figures.
Head Coach Flynn Clayman: "Obviously not the result we wanted… this is right around the time we lost a couple tough games last year and the real question's going to be how we respond because we do have the right guys in that room. I thought our first half was pretty solid, and the second half towards the end was fine, but it was too late. It felt very much like a conference tournament game."
Site: Qubein Center
Score: High Point 84, Southern Illinois 86
Records: High Point (7-2), Southern Illinois (5-4)
It was a great start from Anderson as he recorded the team's first six points of the game. He earned his first four points from the free-throw line, and then
Owen Aquino found Anderson cutting baseline as he finished the two-handed jam to get HPU out to an early 6-3 lead.
HPU was firing and hitting from long range early.
Chase Johnston splashed home a quick-release three-pointer for the team's first three-ball of the game, and then on back-to-back possessions, it was Martin and
Scotty Washington that knocked down triples to put HPU up 16-10.
Martin was getting every bucket to fall as he knocked down a pair of pull-up jump shots from the left elbow and then drained another three-pointer to put him in double-digits with 10 points, and give the Panthers their largest lead of the game, nine points, 23-14.
It was Martin again from beyond the arc that gave HPU the double-digit lead, 28-16, with 10:55 remaining in the first half. Cam'ron Fletcher swung the ball across the court to Martin, who put on a series of moves before stepping back to create space to drill the three-pointer and give him his 13th point of the game.
Anderson had his defender swiping at air as he pulled off an incredible behind-the-back move on his attack to the basket, and the finish was even better as he somehow converted an up-and-under reserve layup in traffic for his 12th point as HPU extended its 39-30 lead with 4:22 remaining until halftime.
With just under one minute to go in the first half, Martin made his way to the basket, drew contact and converted the and-one scooping left-handed layup to put him at the line for the three-point play, but he failed to convert the free-throw as HPU led 46-32.
The Panthers went into the halftime break with a 46-34 advantage. Martin led the way in scoring for HPU in the first 20 minutes of action with 16 points, shooting 6-10 from the field and 3-5 from beyond the arc. Anderson tallied 14 points and six rebounds on 4-8 shooting overall in the first half. As a team, the Panthers shot 50 percent from the field, 41.7 percent from the three-point line and 78.6 percent from the free-throw line.
In the first-half, Martin reached a new career milestone and joined the 1000 points club.
After not recording a point in the first 20 minutes of the game, Fletcher tallied his first bucket with a drive and layup at the rim for HPU's first points of the second half. A missed shot from Anderson was corralled down by Aquino, who put the ball back up at the rim for the second-chance opportunity and and-one. Aquino was able to convert the three-point play at the free-throw line to push HPU's lead, 51-43.
An 11-0 scoring run from the Salukis was stopped after an inbounds baseline pass went to the hands of wide-open Washington at the top of the key, as he nailed the crucial three-pointer to tie the game up at 54 with 13:25 left in the game.
Southern Illinois jumped out to an eight-point lead, but Anderson trimmed that advantage down to five points, 63-58, after drilling his first three-pointer of the game from the right corner for his team-leading 18th point.
HPU cut Southern Illinois' lead back down to five points, 71-66, with 8:42 left on the game clock after made three-point baskets from Johnston and Fletcher for his second basket and first three-pointer of the night.
HPU got back within two points with just over four minutes to go after Anderson converted the team's 10th three-pointer to give him 21 points on the night, and then Martin and
Conrad Martinez both recorded baskets inside the paint. Martinez sank a pair of free throws to tie the game at 80, and then re-tied the game again, at 82, at the charity stripe with 2:08 remaining in the ball game.
A missed shot at the rim by Martinez was put back up by Fletcher for the team's 14th second-chance opportunity point to tie the game at 84 all with 53 seconds left. An HPU turnover allowed Southern Illinois to score on the other end and take the lead with 0.4 seconds remaining. The basket ultimately proved to be the game-winning score as Southern Illinois won 86-84.
The Panthers shot 43.1 percent from the field and 75 percent at the free-throw line. The Panthers also shot 38.5 percent from the three-point line on 10 made three-pointers, as HPU has now recorded 10 or more made triples in four out of the last five games.
"We'll respond. It's one game in the season. It stings right now, but we've got a good group, great guys. They'll respond," said Clayman.
Up Next:
It's a quick turnaround for the Panthers as they look to bounce back against New Jersey Institute of Technology in the Qubein Center on Friday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m.
#GoHPU x #OnTheProwl
