By Alexis Taylor
March 19, 2025
​PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The High Point Panthers (29-5) are poised for an historic moment in their program’s history as they make their NCAA Tournament debut on Thursday. The 13th-seeded Panthers will face the No. 4 seed Purdue Boilermakers (22-11) in a highly anticipated matchup at 12:40 p.m. at the Amica Mutual Pavilion. High Point comes off a thrilling Big South Championship victory and will look to continue its red-hot streak in its first-ever March Madness appearance.
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High Point, having not lost since Jan. 16 against Longwood, enters the tournament on a 14-game winning streak. Led by HPU coach Alan Huss, the Panthers have an explosive offense that ranks among the top-25 in the country in scoring, averaging 82.2 points per game. High Point’s offense is bolstered by its impressive depth, with a rotation that allows the team to rely on multiple scoring threats. The Panthers’ bench has been a key asset, contributing 50 of the 81 points in their Big South Championship win over Winthrop.
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While the Panthers' offensive depth is a strength, Purdue will provide a significant test. The Boilermakers, who reached the national championship game last year, have three core players in Braden Smith (16.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 8.7 apg), Trey Kaufman-Renn (20.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg), and Fletcher Loyer (13.8 ppg), all of whom have been pivotal in Purdue’s success. Smith recently earned Big Ten Player of the Year honors, and Kaufman-Renn, a 6-foot-9 forward, has emerged as a star for the Boilermakers. Despite losing key players like Zach Edey and Lance Jones from last year’s squad, Purdue has remained formidable with a solid offense.
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However, the Boilermakers have faced their share of challenges, having dropped six of their last nine games, including a quarterfinal loss to Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament. High Point, on the other hand, has surged as a high-scoring team capable of competing with any opponent. The Panthers’ potent offense could be the key to an upset, especially given Purdue’s vulnerability on defense, as the Boilermakers have allowed opponents to shoot 63% from two-point range since Feb. 1.
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High Point’s two-point shooting efficiency, ranked among the top 10 in the country since February, could exploit Purdue’s defensive weaknesses. With the ability to score inside and out, the Panthers will look to attack Purdue’s defense, which has shown signs of vulnerability, particularly when pressured by fast-paced offenses. The Panthers will rely on the scoring prowess of seniors Kezza Giffa (14.8 ppg), D’Maurian Williams (13.5 ppg), and junior Kimani Hamilton (13.4 ppg) to put pressure on Purdue’s defense.
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​”We’re not feeling like the underdog,” said Williams. “We’re playing it to win.”
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On the defensive end, High Point will face a tall task in containing Purdue’s powerful offense. The Boilermakers, despite their size disadvantage this year without Edey, remain a dangerous team due to the scoring ability of their core trio. High Point’s defense has been much improved this season but will need to find another level of intensity against a Purdue team that has shown it can dominate offensively when at its best.
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“We’ve got to step it up a little bit now,” Pettiford said. “We’ve got to guard that three-point line and make it hard for those guys.”
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The matchup will be highlighted by the battle between High Point’s depth and Purdue’s star power. With the ability to score from multiple players and a fast-paced, high-scoring style of play, High Point will look to outlast a Purdue team that has been inconsistent as of late. For the Panthers to pull off the upset, they will need to rely on their offensive firepower and find ways to contain Purdue’s key players while avoiding defensive lapses that have plagued them in the past.
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“At this point, it's not about Cinderella,” said Huss. “Once the ball goes up, it's about trying to win a basketball game.”