HPU men beat Averett in exhibition, look ahead to regular season

HIGH POINT – High Point University is still trying to figure out what the finished puzzle will look like. But the pieces are falling into place.

The Panthers shot better than 50% from the field in both halves, made 14 shots from 3-point range and held their opponent in check throughout in rolling to an 85-57 victory against Averett in a men’s basketball exhibition game Saturday evening in the Qubein Center.

“It’s a work in progress,” High Point coach Alan Huss said. “We’ve got a bunch of injured bodies on top of it. We’re working on some lineups that we’ve never worked on one time in practice.

“When you’re in uncomfortable situations from a personnel standpoint and you’re having to learn in front of five thousand people, it’s going to be a challenge. But overall we did some good things in those moments.”

Two newcomers led the way for the Panthers, who beat East Tennessee State 71-56 in their other exhibition Oct. 27 in Johnson City. D’Maurian Williams scored 25 points, while Braden Hausen added 18 points – both making four 3s as High Point quickly led by double digits within the first six minutes.

“It’s nice to be going against other people,” said Hausen, a freshman forward from Amarillo, Texas. “And having to go in with fans makes it even better. I think we shot it very well. We’re going to use that a lot this year – we’ve got a really good-shooting team.”

Returners Kimani Hamilton (nine points), Trae Benham (eight points, five rebounds), Titas Sargiunas (eight points, five assists) and Kezza Giffa (seven points, five assists) were all solid contributors in a well-balanced effort for the Panthers, last year’s Big South regular-season champions.

“When we installed our system, that was a big point we tried to make – trying to make perimeter shots to space the defense,” Huss said. “We probably got a little too outside-in rather than inside-out and we settled a few too many times.

“But I think you kind of saw what we expect – play inside-out, dribble penetration, spray…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/hpu-men-beat-averett-exhibition-001600118.html

Author : The High Point Enterprise, N.C.

Publish date : 2024-11-05 00:16:00

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