FARMVILLE, Va. – For the first time in eight seasons, the High Point University men's basketball team defeated Longwood on the road on Saturday afternoon, 71-59, to sweep the regular season series against the Lancers for the first time since the 2017-18 season.
The Panthers extend their winning streak to four games and pushed their run against the Lancers to three straight victories.
Five Panthers, including four starters, finished in double-figures with
Terry Anderson recording his 10th straight double-figure game with 22 points to go along with five rebounds and three steals.
Owen Aquino added 12 points and seven rebounds,
Rob Martin contributed with 12 points and four assists,
Braden Hausen poured in 10 points, four rebounds and four steals, and
Vincent Brady II posted 10 points.
Site: Joan Perry Brock Center
Score: High Point 71, Longwood 59
Records: High Point (20-4) (8-1), Longwood (12-12) (4-5)
Head Coach Flynn Clayman: "Credit our guys for stepping up against a physical team that is tough to beat at home. Our defense and physicality won us the game, and that is a big step for us. We must continue with this level of defensive effort and game plan execution in order to reach our goals as a team and not simply relying on out scoring teams. To be one of the first nine teams nationally to reach 20 wins this season is also a commendable achievement from our guys."
After an early 7-0 deficit, High Point responded with an 11-0 run over a 3:26 stretch. Three-pointers from Brady II and
Chase Johnston sparked the surge, giving the Panthers an 11-7 advantage.
Aquino regained the advantage for the Panthers, scoring six straight points, including a two-handed jam as HPU took a 19-13 lead with 6:23 remaining in the first half. Martin followed with a six-point run of his own, helping the Panthers match their largest lead of the half, six points, 25-19.
A 6-2 scoring drive led by buckets from Aquino and Brady II, and a pair of free throws from Hausen, pushed the Panther lead to double-digits, 31-21, to close out the first 20 minutes of action.
HPU set the tone defensively in the first half, holding Longwood to 30 percent shooting from the field, 15.4 percent from beyond the arc and 33.3 percent at the free-throw line, while forcing nine turnovers, including seven steals. On the other side of the ball, the Panthers shot 44 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from deep. Martin, Aquino and Brady II led the way in the first half with eight points each, combining to shoot 10-14 from the court.
Hausen continued HPU's momentum into the second half with a three-pointer from the left wing for his first triple of the game, extending the Panthers lead to 14, 40-26.
Anderson was untouchable in the second half, scoring nine of HPU's 11 points over a 3:01 period, which included seven straight to stretch HPU's margin back to double digits, 61-50, with 5:56 left in the game.
HPU kept the lead in the double-digits the remainder of the game, and never allowed Longwood to string together a run, closing the game on a 10-7 run in the final 3:48. Three-pointers from Anderson and Hausen helped seal the 71-59 victory.
The Panthers shot 48 percent from the field and 81 percent at the charity stripe. High Point forced 18 turnovers and recorded 13 steals, marking their third straight game recording 10 or more steals.
Up Next:
The Panthers return home for a matchup against Charleston Southern in the Qubein Center on Wednesday, February 4, at 7:00 p.m.
#GoHPU x #OnTheProwl
