CLINTON, S.C. – Presbyterian had five double-figure scorers, but the Blue Hose (14-16, Big South: 7-8) came up short in a 79-73 loss to the High Point Panthers (27-4, Big South: 15-1) before a raucous crowd on Senior Night in the Templeton Center.
In his final home game,
Jonah Pierce recorded a double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds.
Triston Wilson led the Blue Hose with 17 points.
Carl Parrish tallied 16 points.
Jaylen Peterson scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds.
Josh Pickett scored 10 points and dished out six assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST HALF – High Point scored the game's first eight points. Presbyterian got on the board with two free throws from Pierce. High Point would eventually increase its lead to 31-16 with seven and a half minutes left in the half. Two free throws from Wilson started the Blue Hose on a 10-2 run, cutting High Point's lead to 32-26 after Parrish converted on a layup with 5:17 on the clock. High Point pushed its lead back to nine points after a three-pointer. After a tip-in dunk from Presbyterian's
Chidi Chiakwelu, the Blue Hose had cut High Point's lead back to six, 37-31, with two minutes on the clock. High Point scored eight of the final 12 points of the half, taking a 45-35 lead into the halftime locker room.
SECOND HALF – The Blue Hose scored eight of the first 10 points of the second half, cutting High Point's lead to 47-43 after a layup from Pickett with 17:15 on the clock. Then, High Point scored four straight points. After a three from Parrish, a dunk and two made free throws by Wilson, the Blue Hose cut High Point's lead to 51-50 at 14:29. High Point connected on a three from the wing to move back in front by four, 54-50. Presbyterian scored six straight points behind a pull-up jumper in the lane by Peterson, two free throws by Wilson, and a pull-up jumper in the paint by Wilson; the Blue Hose took their first lead of the game, 56-54. The lead exchanged hands several times over the next few minutes. Pierce converted on a jump hook in the lane, giving the Blue Hose their last lead, 62-61, with 9:06 on the clock. High Point's Chase Johnston knocked down three straight threes, putting High Point back in front for good, after a 13-0 run. The Blue Hose cut High Point's lead to five points after a Peterson hook shot in the lane with 4:03 on the clock; however, Presbyterian was not able to get any closer to High Point the rest of the game.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Pierce recorded his 15th double-double of the season with his 13 points and 15 rebounds.
- With his 15 points, Peterson tallied his 16th double-figure scoring game of the season.
- Wilson recorded his 16th double-figure scoring game of the season after scoring 17 points, which came on 11-for-12 shooting from the free throw line.
- Parrish tallied his 23rd double-figure scoring game of the season with his 16 points.
- Pickett collected his seventh double-figure scoring game of the season with his 10 points.
NEXT GAME
Presbyterian wraps up the regular season on the road at Winthrop this Saturday, February 28, at 4 p.m.
