Lundy fired after 9-21 mark
Only six days after the season ended, Bart Lundy has been dismissed as head coach of the men’s basketball program.
“Our desire and commitment to build a successful and championship-caliber basketball program are very strong,” said athletic director Craig Keilitz in a press release on www.highpointpanthers.com. Read more
HPU ends season at Radford
High Point University’s men’s basketball team fell to top-seeded Radford University 82-58 in the quarterfinals of the Big South Tournament.
HPU (9-21) could not stop the inside presence allowing Radford (19-11) to score 38 points in the paint. In the second half, High Point also shot a dismal 11-for-35 from the floor for 31.4 percent. Read more
The ride is over
High Point University lost to Winthrop University in the Advance Auto Parts Big South Semifinals 61-53. Winthrop advanced to the finals in which they prevailed against UNC Asheville.
“I was proud of our guys they didn’t lay down and we kept battling,” Panther head coach Bart Lundy said.
Arizona Reid led High Point with 21 points and nine rebounds. Gene Harris scored 21 points on seven three pointers. Michael Jenkins had 14 points for Winthrop.
The game started off well for the Panthers who scored the first five points of the game. After the first three minutes of the game, Winthrop gained the lead and never relinquished it.
The first half was all Winthrop when they on a 12-0 run over a three-minute span. The Eagles advanced their lead to as many as 18 before the break. Winthrop had a 33-18 advantaged heading to the locker room.
The Panthers shot only 31 percent from the floor in the first half. Reid or Harris scored all of the points. Senior guard Mike Jefferson only attempted one rushed three in the first half but had four assists.
The second half Winthrop kept a 10 plus point advantaged for over the first 11 minutes. The lead came as close to seven points in the final minute.
Winthrop won their 11th straight Big South tournament game setting a conference record. They also won their fourth straight championship on March 8.
Reid shot 8-27 from the floor and 0-7 from behind the arc. Reid said, “I had some good looks, I just didn’t make them. I had some open threes that rimed out. I guess today just wasn’t my day.”
“These two guys here with me [Reid and Jefferson], the sad part of it is they leave accomplishing some fantastic individual accomplishments. We are going to miss them. It is hard for me to express what they have meant to this program and how much I personally going to miss these guys. They not only are good basketball players, but great people.” Lundy said regarding his two senior leaders.
Reid’s final thoughts about looking back on his stellar two-time MVP career, “I had a lot of fun here at High Point. I had a good career. I still didn’t get the thing I came here to get.”
Reid did many things at High Point. He is the all time leader in steals, minutes played, game started and games played. He is second in points and third in rebounds. He is the Big South’s all time leader in rebounds and the only 2,000 point, 1,000 rebound man. He is the 97th player in NCAA history to achieve such a feat.
Jefferson’s final thoughts, “The coach at High Point gave me a chance being I was the last JUNCO player they took. I’m just grateful for the opportunity to play here and play with the best player I have ever played with in Arizona Reid. It was a dream and it came and went.”
Jefferson left with HPU’s all time assist record, three pointers made, third in minutes played, third in games started and a member of the 1,000 point club. He was in the nation’s top in assists per game this year and set a High Point single season record in assists.
The season is over but the team has bright spots looking ahead for next year. Jourdan Morris will be eligible after sitting out a year due to NCAA regulations over transferring. He played last year for St. Bonaventure scoring 13 points against Syracuse. <!–[if supportFields]> CONTACT _Con-3F61691828 <![endif]–>Alquan Mendenhall<!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–> will be a redshirt freshman next year. He scored 24 points a game as a junior. He scored 40 points in an area tournament game. Also coming in are two 70 rating guards on ESPN.com.
High Point takes down VMI
High Point University (12-9, 4-3) ran past Reggie William-less Virginia Military Institute (10-10, 2-4) 90-71 Saturday night.
HPU had four players in double figures led by Arizona Reid and Mike Jefferson at 22 points apiece. Reid finished with 22 points, 16 rebounds, six assists and four steals. Jefferson finished with 22 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals. Cruz Daniels finished with 16 points and four blocks and Eugene Harris had 14 points.
The game was a tale of two halves as High Point trailed by as many as eight through the first half. VMI led the whole half with no ties. Most of the half had the Keydets up four points.
Coming out of the break HPU had to overcome a seven point deficit. The first seven minutes of the second frame, the Panthers outscored the home team 21-6. In five more minutes High Point stretched the lead to 18 at 72-54 with 6:26 left.
The next four minutes, HPU’s scoring drought was VMI’s scoring monsoon. A 17-6 run made the game 78-71. The Keydets would not score within the final 2:50.
For HPU the rebounds and three pointers were crucial to victory. The Panthers out-rebounded VMI 46-25. The Keydets, normally high scoring, three point machine, went 3-21 from deep. VMI could not stop the inside game either. HPU scored 58 points from the paint and 26 fast break points. High Point also know it is better to give as they had 26 assists compared to VMI’s 10.
With his six rebounds, Reid became the first player in Big South history to record 1,800 points and 900 rebounds. At his current pace, Reid will finished with 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. Reid also became the career leader in High Point history for steals with his second steal of the game. He has 142 career steals now.
HPU begins the second half of Big South play Wednesday against Liberty University in the Millis Center. Game time is scheduled start at 7 pm. Last time the teams met, LU won by four.
