Nick Barbour scored 27 points, including 16 in the second half, as High Point shot 60.9 percent from the floor in the final stanza to earn the 63-57 win over the Presbyterian College Blue Hose men's basketball team tonight at Templeton Center in Clinton, S.C.
PC dropped to 8-7 overall and 2-3 in the Big South, while High Point improved to 6-8, 2-2.
Tied 35-35 in the second half, High Point used two three-pointers by Justin Cheek and Shay Shine to help the Panthers open up a four point lead, 43-39 with 11:49 remaining. The lead was short-lived as a Josh Johnson three-pointer and an Al'Lonzo Coleman gave the game its fifth tie at 43-43 with 10:03 left.
Tied 45-45 at 8:19, Barbour hit a three-pointer and a jumper to turn the tie into a 50-45 High Point lead with 7:21 to go in the game.
High Point made it a seven point game on several occasions and led 58-51 at the 3:15 mark before Khalid Mutakabbir hit two free throws to cut the margin to five. Coleman cut it to three, 58-55, with a lay-up at 1:50 but Shine gave the Panthers the 60-55, five-point lead again with a minute to go.
Shine hit two lay-ups while Branimir Mikulic added a free throw the final minute of action to put the game out of reach as the Panthers came away with the 63-57 win.
PC stormed out to a 14-2 lead off a five-for-eight effort from the field and looked to take control in the first half before High Point cut the margin to six off back-to-back three-pointers. It was the start of a 21-9 run as the Panthers tied the game at 23-23 with 2:49 on the clock.
A back-and forth battle ensued to the end of the half and with PC leading 28-26, Xavier Martin hit a lay-up with 40 second left and both teams headed into the locker room knotted at 28.
Following High Point's Barbour and his 27 points was Shine with 14. Mikulic pulled down seven rebounds to lead the Panthers.
PC was led by Mutakabbir with 20 points, followed by Johnson with 10. Coleman, who had eight points, led the team with eight rebounds
The Blue Hose shot 40.0 percent from the field and were just five-of-19 from beyond the three-point arc. High Point hit 50.0 percent from the field, including 60.9 in the second half. The Panthers, who were eight-of-16 in three-pointers, led the rebounding margin, 31-29. Turnovers were even at eight apiece.
PC continues its two-game home stand with Campbell coming to town for the first ever meeting between the schools. The 7:30 p.m. game is Saturday, Jan. 7. It is part of a doubleheader with the women's team hosting Winthrop at 5 p.m.
All home games and Big South road games will be broadcast on the Big South Sports Network Sponsored by State Farm at www.BigSouthSports.com. For a nominal fee, fans can catch all the action live and still be able to catch archived games from the season. Fans can also listen for free on the radio at WLBG 860-AM or www.GoBlueHose.com.
