HIGH POINT, N.C. – Lees-McRae men's basketball held a 54-52 advantage in the first half of an exhibition game with High Point, but the Panthers claimed the 100-83 victory on Tuesday evening.
Timon Jones led the Bobcats with 17 points on 6-7 from three-point range.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae – 83; High Point – 100
LOCATION: Qubein Center – High Point, North Carolina
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Jones made the first basket of the game with 19:40 remaining after an assist from Jaylin Stewart. Jones added to the Bobcats' lead with his first three of the evening as Lees-McRae led 5-2. The Bobcats regained the lead at 22-21 and went on a 10-0 run capped by a layup by LJ Rogers at 29-21. Drew Gardner knocked down his first three of the game with 4:21 left to play in the first as Lees-McRae had their largest lead of the game at 48-38. High Point grabbed the one-point advantage after a quick 5-0 run, but Brandon Brown answered with a three-pointer to give Lees-McRae the halftime lead at 54-52.
- In the second half, the Panthers opened on a 14-2 run to gain the 66-56 with 13:46 remaining. Jeremy Golson stopped the Panther run with a jumper from three-point range and the Bobcats cut the deficit to five points after three via Justin Nichelson with 11:52 to play.
- HPU went on a 13-0 run to push their lead to 82-64 at the 9:13 mark of the second half. Lees-McRae used a ten-point of their own after a final three-pointer by Golson at the final horn. High Point collected the 100-83 victory on Tuesday night.
- The Bobcats shot 40% (32-80) from the field and were an efficient 22-41 (53.7%) in the first half. From three-point range, Lees-McRae made 13 from deep as Jones had a team-high five. Lees-McRae recorded 26 assists on 32 made baskets in the game.
- Jones went 6-10 from the floor for 17 points and added two assists and one steal to his game totals. Golson and Nichelson joined Jones in double-figures with 11 and 16 points, respectively. Jaylin Stewart distributed a game-high seven assists in 19 minutes of action.
FOR THE PANTHERS:
- Abdoulaye Thiam played a huge part for High Point as he contributed 23 points off the bench with seven threes on the night. Jaden House and Zach Austin each added 22 and 19 points for the Panthers on the night.
- High Point was 34-73 (46.6%) from the field with 12 made three-pointers and 20-36 (55.6%) from the charity stripe.
UP NEXT:
The Bobcats return to the McNair & Debi Tornow Court tomorrow evening for their home opener with Lenoir-Rhyne. The tip-off is slated for a 7 p.m. start in Banner Elk.
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