For the first time ever, High Point University will be playing in the men’s NCAA Tournament. The Panther clawed their way back from a 15-point hole against Winthrop to prevail 81-69 and punch their ticket to the greatest competition in college hoops.
High Point and Winthrop met in the pinnacle of the Big South season on Sunday. High Point began the game playing its brand of basketball, sharing the ball well. Unfortunately, for the raucous traveling High Point fans, that didn’t last the entire first half. Winthrop roared back into the game as its 3-pointers kept finding the net. The Eagles began to stretch their lead to 39-29 at half.
The High Point fans in the arena collectively sighed in relief as the Panthers finally began playing solid defense. Winthrop made six triples in the first half but couldn’t get one to fall in the second frame.
Senior guard Bobby Pettiford sprung to life for High Point. The North Carolina native dropped in two consecutive off-balance layups to bring the Panther faithful back into the game. Winthrop’s lead vanished in front of their eyes. Junior guard Abdoulaye Thiam hit a corner 3 to extend the High Point lead to five, prompting a timeout from the Eagles.
High Point ran away in the final minutes of the game, as Winthrop couldn’t get the lid off the basket.
“Credit to Winthrop, this past month they’ve been playing as good of basketball as anyone in the country,” said High Point head coach Alan Huss. “I’m happy for our guys…We talked about the progression of [our] team, going from coach-fed to player-led.”
Pettiford led the Panthers in scoring with 17 points, while fan-favorite guard Kezza Giffa dropped in 16 of his own.
“Iron sharpens iron. Kezza and [I] always go out there and make each other better,” Pettiford said. “Some days it’s him, some days it’s me.”
Pettiford received tournament MVP honors for his elite display in his three games.
High Point will await its opponent on Selection Sunday on March 16. They are a projected 13 seed, according to many national sources.
“It’s surreal for me right now…I’ve been watching the NCAA tournament since I was young,” said Giffa. “I thank coach Huss for believing in me… I was just a kid from France with a dream… I’ll be forever grateful for him.”
