HIGH POINT — High Point University found a way to win when things weren’t going its way.
The Panthers, on a short schedule, regained the momentum over the final 10 minutes — making key play after key play — to beat Presbyterian 77-66 in Big South Conference men’s basketball Saturday night in the Qubein Center.
“We showed a little something tonight,” High Point coach Alan Huss said. “Playing a good team, playing a team that was really well-prepared. They had a week — they had a great plan and took advantage of their extra time, I thought. And we had a really quick turnaround. Coming off a loss was one thing. Combining it with playing against a really well-coached team with a little extra time — I was really proud.”
Kimani Hamilton scored a season-high 26 points — including 13 over the final 10 minutes — on 11-of-14 shooting to lead the Panthers (16-5 overall, 4-2 conference), coming off a two-point loss Thursday at Longwood.
Bobby Pettiford added 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting and four assists, while Chase Johnston made all three of his shots, including two 3-pointers, for eight points. D’Maurian Williams chipped in seven points and six rebounds.
Juslin Bodo Bodo had six points, along with Trae Benham and Simon Hildebrandt, plus grabbed 12 rebounds as High Point broke free late after watching its early double-digit lead turn into a tight game into the second half.
High Point led by 12 within the first five minutes. But its advantage dwindled into a 38-38 halftime score and a three-point deficit in the opening minute of the second half. The teams were still within a point with 13 minutes left in the game.
But the Panthers scored eight straight points to lead by nine with nine minutes left — a pivotal run highlighted by a diving hustle play by Benham on defense that fed into a 3 by Williams on offense.
“Plays like that are winning basketball plays,” Huss said. “Trae kind of ignited us with that hustle play. And plays like that are incredibly contagious. I think that play really turned the tide. And I thought Bodo down the stretch was just a monster.”
The Blue Hose (8-12, 1-4), paced by Kory Mincy with 18 points, stayed within reach — closing within three with six minutes left. But a steady litany of scores by High Point, particularly from Hamilton, kept them at arm’s length.
The Panthers, who struggled at times with 12 turnovers, scored seven of the game’s final eight points. They shot 54% from the field for the game — including 58% in the second half — while limiting Presbyterian to 39%.
“This team makes you finish at the rim, and they’re really physical,” Huss said. “So, it’s hard to finish at the rim. I thought (Hamilton) was just tremendous. … I thought his resiliency, his focus down the stretch in those situations, when things didn’t necessarily go his way, that was critically important to our success.”
High Point, in second place a half-game behind UNC Asheville and a half-game ahead of Longwood and Radford, will visit USC Upstate on Wednesday before returning home Saturday against Winthrop at 2 p.m.
