HIGH POINT, N.C.  - In a game that came down to the final couple of minutes, the Presbyterian Blue Hose (10-14, Big South: 2-7) came up short against the Big South leading High Point Panthers (20-4, Big South: 9-0), 78-68, on the road on Saturday evening.

Presbyterian rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to tie the score at 62 with two minutes left in the game. High Point connected on the go-ahead three-point field goal by Titas Sargiunas at the 1:50 mark. The Panthers closed out the win after making 11 free throws in the final minute.
 
Marquis Barnett paced the Blue Hose with 23 points. Crosby James scored 11 points off the bench.  
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST HALF – Kaleb Scott scored the game's first two points on a layup 21 seconds into the game. Presbyterian scored nine of the game's first 11 points taking a 9-2 lead after a pullup jumper from Samage Teel at the 15:13 mark. Kobe Stewart and Kory Mincy scored early baskets for the Blue Hose. With PC leading 11-6 after a layup from Barnett at the 13:21 mark, High Point scored 10 of the next 12 points taking a 16-13 lead. Presbyterian's James knocked down a three tying the score at 16 at the 8:03 mark. High Point connected on four straight free throws regaining the first half lead. A layup from Barnett and free throws by James and Mincy tied the score at 20 with 5:50 left in the half. High Point outscored PC, 14-4, over the final five minutes of the half to take a 34-24 halftime lead.
 

SECOND HALF – High Point scored the first two points of the half. PC went on a 7-0 run with Barnett scoring five of those points which was capped off by his three-point play at the 16:54 mark cutting High Point's lead to 36-31. The Panthers scored five straight points pushing their lead back to double-digits. With 9:50 on the clock, James was fouled shooting a three from the corner. He connected on all three free throws getting the Blue Hose within two points, 49-47, at the 9:50 mark. High Point scored six of the next seven points pushing their lead to seven points. Presbyterian went on a 9-2 run started by a three from the wing by James to tie the score at 57 after Barnett made two free throws with 4:03 left in the game. The score would be tied two more times with the final time at 62 with 2:18 left. High Point behind their free throw shooting closed out the win.
  
NOTES

• Barnett scored his 23 points on 8-for-12 shooting from the field and 7-for-8 shooting from the free throw line.
• Barnett's 23 points marked his sixth 20-point scoring game of the season and the 38^th double-digit scoring game of his career.
• James's 11 points marked his fourth double-figure scoring game of the season and the 68^th of his career.
• The Blue Hose blocked seven shots with Scott and Barnett recording three blocks apiece.
• Presbyterian had eight steals and only eight turnovers in the game

NEXT GAME
The Blue Hose begin a two-game homestand against Gardner-Webb at the Templeton Center on Wednesday, February 7 at 7 p.m.