HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University men's basketball team continued its tremendous play against Gardner-Webb on Wednesday night, winning its sixth straight game against the Runnin' Bulldogs, 104-49, for the largest margin of victory over a Division I and a league opponent in Big South Conference history to push the Panthers' win streak to seven straight games.
The Panthers' 104 total points mark the fourth game this season that the Panthers have scored at least 100 points, and the 55-point margin is the fourth time this season HPU has won by over 50 points.
Five players recorded double-digit scoring, with
Conrad Martinez registering a game-high 22 points to go along with six assists and three steals off the bench.
Caden Miller added 14, and
Vincent Brady II contributed with 11 off the bench as well.
Terry Anderson finished with 13 points, and
Rob Martin poured in 12 points.
Head Coach Flynn Clayman: "Obviously, a good win to put it away, really in the first half. It's rare to have a game that's completely over in the first half, basically. Proud of our guys' defensive effort… we did get a lot of deflections. Our assist to turnover was great, we are staying great in that category. Forcing 24 turnovers obviously is great. I checked before the game, there are two teams in the country that are top-15 in offensive and defensive turnover percentage, and that is Houston and High Point."
Site: Qubein Center
Score: High Point 104, Gardner-Webb 49
Records: High Point (15-3) (3-0), Gardner-Webb (2-16) (0-3)
The Panthers were exceptional from tip-off, starting the game off on a 16-0 scoring run, forcing five turnovers, and holding the Runnin' Bulldogs to 0-7 from the field and without a point for 5:01 of action. Anderson played a big factor in the tremendous opening five minutes, scoring nine of the first 13 points, shooting 2-2 from the field and 5-6 at the free-throw line.
HPU continued its dominance, allowing a single basket in the first 12:30 as the Panthers jumped out to a 32-2 advantage. Brady II and
Youssouf Singare were crucial off the bench in helping HPU get out to such a large lead, as Brady II tallied seven points and Singare added six points and five rebounds.
High Point earned critical minutes off the bench from Miller as well, as he scored eight of the team's next 10 points and single-handedly outscored Gardner-Webb, 8-6, as HPU pushed its lead, 42-10.
"Now, you know, Caden [Miller] is playing great, and Youssouf [Singare] is starting to play really good. You start adding these pieces in and it just adds other layers to our offense," said Clayman.
The Panthers closed out the first half on an 11-2 scoring run to take the 53-13 lead going into the second half. The 53 points are tied for the second-most HPU has scored in the first half against a Big South Conference opponent in program history, and the 40-point advantage is the largest differential heading into halftime for HPU against a conference opponent in program history.
Anderson scored 11 points on a perfect 3-3 shooting in the first 20 minutes of action. Martinez also finished the first half in double-digits with 10 points and four assists. Three other Panthers tallied at least seven points as Miller contributed with eight, Singare added eight and Brady pitched in with seven.
Defensively, HPU overwhelmed Gardner-Webb with its quick hands, creating 11 turnovers, and with its length, not allowing a single three-point basket on 16 attempts, and an overall 6-30 from the field.
Braden Hausen and Martinez continued HPU's momentum to start the second half as both knocked down a pair of three-pointers, guiding HPU to a 22-7 run and 75-20 lead to open the half. The two three-pointers put Martinez's score total up to 18 points.
The Panthers never looked back, shooting 11-21 from the field and 7-12 from long range in the final 11:54 to win in controlling fashion, 104-49.
HPU registered 65 points from its bench, 52 points in the paint and 35 points off turnovers, created by 18 steals and forcing 24 turnovers. The Panthers shot 50.7 percent from the field and 76.9 percent at the free-throw line.
Up Next:
The Panthers look to continue their longest win streak of the season in Charleston, S.C., against Charleston Southern University on Saturday, January 10, at 2:00 p.m.
#GoHPU x #OnTheProwl
