HPU continues their winning streak after defeating Longwood, 93-76

By Nick Allen 

February 3, 2024

The High Point University Panthers defeated the Longwood University Lancers on

Thursday Feb. 1, 93-76, in front of a packed Qubein Center under the big lights. 

Kezza Giffa led the way for HPU with a game-high 24 points.

ESPNU aired the Big South Conference matchup which was the first time ESPNU has aired

HPU men’s basketball since Feb. 17, 2022 against Longwood in a game that the Lancers won,

78-71, in the Qubein Center.

After being out three games with a lower leg injury, Duke Miles returned for the much

anticipated national televised game.

With a total attendance of 5,349 people, the arena was jumping the entire night.

HPU kicked things off early as Giffa found a cutting Abdouleye Thiam for the Panthers’

first basket of the game. 

Kimani Hamilton got the building rocking after he flushed down a two-handed jam down the lane. 

Giffa was attacking the basket and dominating early as he recorded a quick seven points on 3-4 shooting from the court overall within the first six minutes of the game.

A Hamilton breakaway one-handed slam extended HPU’s lead to 14 with under seven minutes remaining in the first half, 35-21.

Trae Benham closed out the first half with a three-pointer to give HPU the lead at the end of the first half, 50-31.

Benham was red hot in the first half from beyond the arc, nailing four out of his six three-point attempts to give him 15 points at the end of the first 20 minutes.

With the electric crowd behind them, the Panthers shot 55.2 percent from the court overall and 92.3 percent from the free-throw line going into halftime.

The Panthers' energy in the first half carried into the second as Juslin Bodo Bodo blocked a shot attempt on the defensive end, and Hamilton slammed down an alley-oop from Thiam on the other end to start the half.

Benham’s hot hand continued as he drained his fifth three-pointer to give HPU a 19-point lead, 57-38.

Benham was not the only one with a hot hand as Duke Miles and Kezza Giffa drained back-to-back triples to give the Panthers a 70-49 lead.

Qubein Center was jumping after three-straight possessions with a field goal that included a three-pointer from Miles, and back-to-back dunks from Hamilton and Miles to seal the game for the Panthers. 

HPU controlled the game the entire way, and despite a 14-5 run from Longwood late in the second half, the Panthers closed out strong and came out with the win, 93-76. 

As the buzzer sounded, the student sections stormed the court as the Panthers extended their program record, 11 game winning streak, and remained undefeated with an 8-0 record in Big South conference play. 

The Panthers shot an astounding 61.1 percent from the court overall, 42.3 percent from the three-point line, and 88.9 percent from the free-throw line on the game.

Giffa led the way with a game-high 24 points, on 8-12 shooting from the court overall and 4-6 from the three-point line, to go along with seven assists.

Benham added 18 points and five rebounds, and Hamilton contributed with 16 points, eight assists, four rebounds, and two blocks.

In Duke Miles’ return, he recorded 14 points on 6-12 shooting from the court overall and 2-5 from the three-point line in 25 minutes played.

“We will continue to work him [Miles] back in. He was able to practice the last few days for about an hour so we are really trying to keep his minutes down. I think I was not supposed to exceed 20 minutes and I did exceed 20. We will continue each day to work him back to where he is himself,” said Coach Alan Huss.

The Panthers will look to continue their winning streak as HPU will battle against Presbyterian College on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m ET in the Qubein Center.