Raising the Bar » Eugene Harris

Lundy fired after 9-21 mark

Bryan Rothamel — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:26:58 +0000

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.

This past year HPU went 9-21, marking the second time in program history losing more than 20 games. In Lundy’s six years, the Panthers compiled a record of 96-87 overall and 48-46 in Big South play.

Reached by phone Tuesday, Gene Harris said, “We didn’t think this was going to happen at all.”

Lundy told the High Point Enterprise the move was “a surprise.” Returning next year are the team’s top nine scorers including Harris, Cruz Daniels and Big South All-Freshmen team member Nick Barbour.

The Panthers also expect to see redshirt freshman Corey Law and signed recruit Jairus Simms.

Harris also said, “(Lundy) really cared for his players on the court and especially off the court. It is a tough time for me right now and I know for a lot of the players.”

Lundy’s HPU-era started in 2003-04, finishing 19-11 and an appearance in the Big South Tournament Championship game. That year he was named National Rookie Coach of the Year by www.collegeinsider.com. The highlight of Lundy’s tenure came in the 2006-07 season going 22-10 and finishing second in the Big South.

Under Lundy’s guidance, the Panthers have had three players reach 1000 points while Harris is nine points away. Also, Arizona Reid and Danny Gathings earned three Big South Players of the Year awards combined. Both are HPU’s only NCAA Division I AP All-Americans. Gathings was named 2004 NCAA Division I National Sportsman of the Year.

Lundy previously coached at Queens and was an assistant at Queens and Winthrop.

Harris added, “I wish the best for coach Lundy, definitely. It is a tough time right now.”

Triad rival, Elon also made a coaching change yesterday firing Ernie Nestor. Both coaches were hired April 2003 and dismissed the same day.

HPU ends season at Radford

Bryan Rothamel — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 05:27:34 +0000

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.

“They did extend their pressure and we were challenged at the rim,” Panthers coach Bart Lundy said.

Pacing the Panthers was Gene Harris with 12 points, all were converted three-pointers. David Singleton scored 11 points while dishing out six assists. Cruz Daniels finished with four blocks and nine rebounds.

Big South MVP, Art Parakhouski, scored 24 points for the Highlanders. Junior Amir Johnson finished close to a triple-double with 10 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. Kenny Thomas and Joey Lynch-Flohr finished with double figures, 19 and 12 points respectively.

Daniels said of Parakhouski’s play and the game’s result, “He’s a good player. I figured we prepared well for the game but it’s completely different when you are out there.”

Coming out of the break HPU trailed by 13. After a 5-0 run, Harris missed a 3-pointer leading to an emphatic dunk by Parakhouski who was fouled by Daniels on the play. The fast break led to a 28-6 Radford run that put the game out of reach for the Panthers.

In the first half HPU could not stop the inside presence of Parakhouski and Lynch-Floh posting 16 and 10 points respectively. Floor general Amir Johnson played all 20 minutes dishing out six assists.

Guards Nick Barbour, Harris and Singleton dominated HPU’s first half. Barbour scored all of his eight points while Harris and Singleton chipped in six apiece. Cruz Daniels pulled down three rebounds, all on the defensive end.

High Point is done for the year. This year’s 21 losses were the second most losses in High Point history and the most losses since the 1953-54 campaign. The team that year finished 7-23.

“[HPU's] record this year was not indicative of their season,” said Radford coach, Brad Greenberg, following the game.

All higher seeds in the Big South won the opening round. Thursday night’s action will feature VMI vs. Liberty for the early contest and Radford vs. UNC-Asheville in the late game. Both games can be seen on ESPNU and are hosted by Radford. The championship game will be played at highest remaining seed.

The ride is over

Bryan Rothamel — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 03:06:02 +0000

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 11^th 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 97^th 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. CONTACT _Con-3F61691828 Alquan Mendenhall 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

Bryan Rothamel — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 02:50:44 +0000

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.