ROCK HILL, S.C. - The High Point University Panthers played the Winthrop University Eagles in Rock Hill, S.C., on Saturday afternoon, and picked up a 22-point win. The Panthers have been clicking and are coming off two back-to-back double-digit wins, extending their win streak to eight.
In the past two seasons under Head Coach Alan Huss, the Panthers are now 50-14, making Coach Huss the fastest head coach in Big South Conference history to win 50 overall games. In NCAA history, Coach Huss is the fastest coach since 1948 (Everett Case of NC State) to make it to 50 wins after taking over a program below .500, making it the fastest modern era program flip.
Site: Winthrop Coliseum
Score: High Point 88, Winthrop 66
Records: High Point (23-5, 11-2), Longwood (18-10, 8-5)
Both teams began the game going back and forth by trading brackets. At the 16:56 mark, the score was already 6-5, with the Eagles having three different scorers and the Panthers' D'Maurian Williams putting up all five points.
The fouls occurred early for the Panthers, with six in the first eight minutes. With 11:47 remaining in the first half, Bobby Pettiford made a very athletic pass on the baseline to guard Abdoulaye Thiam, creating an opportunity for Thiam to drain a three and give the Panthers a 16-14 lead. Freshman Josh Ibukunoluwa followed up with a layup of his own.
Both teams regularly committed fouls in the first half, as once one squad gained any momentum, fouls would stall play. With just 13 minutes played, both teams had a combined 16 fouls.
With 4:40 remaining in the first half, the Panthers started to pull away in transition, with threes from Thiam and Chase Johnston. This culminated in a 17-3 run for the Panthers throughout the next three minutes of action.
In the first half, bench points kept the Panthers toe-to-toe with the Eagles (27 of 43 total points). Thiam led the team in scoring in the first half with eight points, going 3-7 from the floor and 2-5 from beyond the arc. Ibukunoluwa added another seven, going 50% from the floor while hitting a three. The Panthers led going into the half 43-31.
The competitiveness between both teams again showed in the second half. In the first six minutes after the break, the Eagles found the momentum behind multiple Kasen Harrison shots. However, the Panthers got back on their feet with Terry Anderson and Ibukunoluwa layups to regain more of a lead. Then Pettiford stole the ball from the Eagles and took it to the rim to put the Panthers up by seven.
The Panthers stayed hot on offense with six more points from Anderson, two layups, a converted three-point play from Kezza Giffa, and a Williams three-pointer. The run gave High Point a 67-51 lead with 7:06 remaining in the contest.
Giffa found his rhythm in the second half and quickly hit a three-pointer two minutes later, extending the lead to 76-55.
Williams stayed hot, getting fouled and hitting both free throws while draining a three-pointer 30 seconds later with 3:20 remaining. Williams struck again in the paint to give the Panthers a 26-point lead.
The Panthers emptied the bench to end the game, as freshman Birgir Irving brought down a rebound with 34 seconds remaining. Winthrop scored two more quick baskets, and the Panthers defeated the Eagles 88-66. High Point finished the season series 2-0 against Winthrop, with both wins by a combined 44 points.
High Point was led by Giffa with 16 points, Williams with 15, Anderson with a season-high 14 and Ibukunoluwa with a career-high 13 points while leading the team on the boards with eight.
Up Next:
The Panthers will welcome the Charleston Southern University Buccaneers to High Point on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m.
#GoHPU x #OnTheProwl
