JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The High Point University men's basketball team advanced to the Big South Championship game for the first time since the 2003-04 season. After a close back-and-forth battle with Radford University, the Panthers prevailed and secured the 76-73 victory in the final seconds.
"It wasn't a work of art, but we did enough against a team that was urgent, talented and very well coached," Head Coach
Alan Huss stated. "We recognize that this time of year… enough is all it takes. We were in a similar situation a year ago and we did just enough to get beat so I'm proud of our guys. We had some adversity and some things that didn't go our way, and we kept playing."
Site: Freedom Hall
Score: High Point 76, Radford 73
Records: High Point (28-5, 14-2), Radford (20-13, 9-7)
It all came down to the last two minutes of the game. After leading by 10 points, 70-60, with six and a half minutes on the clock, the Panthers went cold for a three-minute period while the Highlanders slowly chipped away and took advantage of the Panthers lull.
With 3:10 left on the clock,
Juslin Bodo Bodo followed up with an offensive put back from an HPU missed three to keep High Point ahead 72-67. In Radford's next two possessions, the Highlanders took advantage of a second chance opportunity and a steal to score two back-to-back layups, closing the game to a one-point difference with the Panthers leading 72-71 with two minutes to go.
Through four possessions and a minute and a half of action, both teams were held scoreless. The Highlanders fouled High Point's
Bobby Pettiford with 23 seconds left on the clock and sent him to the line for the one-and-one free throws.
Rattling in the first shot, Pettiford swished the second to give High Point the three point lead, 74-71.
Radford came down and used some time off the clock before driving down the lane and dishing it off for a layup at the block to make it a one-point game for a second time with nine seconds left in the clock.
High Point inbounded the ball to
Kezza Giffa who was fouled on the Highlanders trap in the corner. Giffa cashed in both clutch free throws to give HPU some cushion for the 76-73 lead with three seconds left. Radford had three seconds to get off a three-point shot but after inbounding the ball, the Highlanders were called for a traveling violation, and turned the ball back over to the Panthers with one second on the clock.
"We come in everyday and end practice by knocking down a certain number of free throws in a row," Pettiford stated. "We started with 12 and now we're at 18. We do it every day so there's no pressure when we go to the line."
High Point advanced to the Big South Championship game for the first time in 20 seasons, and will have a chance at its first-ever Big South Tournament title.
Four Panthers ended in double figures led by Hamilton with 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Giffa, Bodo Bodo and Pettiford each contributed 10 points apiece. As a team, High Point shot 53.8% from the floor, 46.7% from three and 68.4% from the line.
UP NEXT:
High Point play Winthrop in the Big South semifinals on Saturday, March 8 at 12:00 p.m. at Freedom Hall.
#GoHPU x #OnTheProwl
