HIGH POINT, N.C. — On Saturday afternoon,
Terry Anderson led the Panthers with a career-high 29-point performance to give the High Point men's basketball team its second victory in conference play. A strong defensive effort in the second half paved the way for the 80-67 win over the visiting Longwood University Lancers.
Anderson was one of four players in double-figures, recording his third 20-point game of the season. He went 10-14 from the floor and a perfect 8-8 from the free throw line while adding eight rebounds.
Owen Aquino added 15 points,
Rob Martin picked up 12 points and
Conrad Martinez added 11.
"That's got to be our grittiest win this season," Head Coach
Flynn Clayman stated. "We've faced some adversity in games... we've taken big leads and we've also been punched in the face and folded in those situations in the past, but today we stepped up on that. Longwood's a tough basketball team and we are probably going to see them two more times this season. They are pretty good and I don't think their record is indicative of how good they really are."
Site: Qubein Center
Score: High Point 80, Longwood 67
Records: High Point (14-3, 2-0), Longwood (9-8, 1-1)
The game opened at a fast pace as both teams pushed the tempo early.
Braden Hausen buried the first basket for the Panthers from beyond the arc, followed by two three-point plays from Aquino. First off an and-one post up and second from a catch and shoot three, giving HPU an 11-6 lead.
The threes kept rolling as Martinez pulled up for one on the wing to make it 16-10 at the 14-minute mark in the first half. A Lancer three-pointer closed the game to three points mid-way through the action.
Martin returned to the floor and sparked a run helping the Panthers produce three straight baskets. He first converted on two-points with a driving layup, then followed up with an assist on a dunk to Aquino before knocking down a three-pointer at the top of the key to give High Point the 27-16 lead.
Anderson cashed in a deep three to give HPU its largest lead of the first half at 12 points, 30-18 with seven minutes to go. Longwood chipped away and closed the gap back down to single digits. A three from the Lancers in the last five seconds of the half made it a two-point game, 42-40 in favor of the Panthers.
In the first four minutes of the second half, the game tied at 46 all. Anderson broke the ice and ignited a run for High Point after picking up a mid-court steal for a two-handed jam. The Panthers trekked on a 9-0 run and forced a Longwood timeout.
High Point kept the crowd alive as Aquino powered up a two-handed dunk of his own and
Chase Johnston drained a three in the corner in front of the HPU bench, giving HPU a 13-point lead, 63-50 with 10 minutes to go in the game.
Down the stretch, Anderson converted in two back-to-back possessions with five points and Martin connected on a jump shot to give High Point its largest lead of the game, 72-55 with six minutes left on the clock.
The Panthers held on to the double-digit lead, earning the teams 14th win of the season by double figures with the 80-67 victory. As a team, High Point shot 52.8% from the field, 30.4% from three and 77.3% from the line.
UP NEXT:
High Point remains at home and will host Gardner-Webb University on Wednesday, January 7 at 7:00 p.m. inside the Qubein Center.
#GoHPU x #OnTheProwl
