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A busy Sunday of conference tournament championships started in the Big South, where regular-season champion High Point defeated Winthrop, 81-69, to secure the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance at the Division I level. The Panthers moved up from Division II in 1998-99.
High Point erased a 15-point second-half deficit to cut down the nets in a major redemption story after losing in the Big South tournament semifinals on their home floor as the No. 1 seed last year. This time, they got it done on a neutral court in Johnson City, Tenn.
HERE COME THE PANTHERS 🔥#GoHPU x #OnTheProwl pic.twitter.com/Lf4n0kg8BQ
— HPU Men’s Basketball (@HPUMBB) March 9, 2025
What was most impressive about the Panthers’ comeback and victory was how they managed to pull it off. Down 48-33 early in the second half, second-year coach Alan Huss turned to his backups, sitting all five starters on the bench. The reserves responded immediately. Guard Bobby Pettiford banked in a 3-pointer to spark a huge run, and the substitutes were able to finish the job.
Huss smartly never went back to his starters, riding the hot hands to the championship.
Pettiford, who won a national championship with Kansas in 2022, and forward Terry Anderson were particularly brilliant in the second half. Both repeatedly found their way to the bucket for tough finishes, sparking the huge comeback.
High Point will be a dark horse to make a Sweet 16 run as a double-digit seed. At 29-5 overall with a top-25 offense, per KenPom, these Panthers can score with anyone. The dominance of their depth was on full display Sunday, and Huss’ group is fully capable of pulling an upset or two in the Big Dance.
This story will be updated.
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(Photo: John Byrum / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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