The High Point University men’s basketball team emerged victorious against La Salle University with a score of 84-72 in a thrilling matchup at the Qubein Center, marking the first meeting between the two teams at this venue. The Panthers showcased a dominant performance, highlighted by a stellar game from Jordan Martinez, who notched a career-high of 26 points, shooting 7-for-12 from the field, including five three-pointers. Additionally, he excelled at the free-throw line, going a perfect 7-for-7.
Head Coach Tubby Smith praised the team’s efforts after the game, expressing gratitude for the supportive crowd, especially during the holiday break when students were away. He noted, “With the students gone, the crowd gave us some good energy today. The guys really bought in on the defensive end. We did a fantastic job on the glass, especially with Cam being out from an illness right now. It was a good bounce-back win against a DI team since the App game, and I’m proud of their effort.”
High Point (10-3) started strong, scoring three quick three-pointers in their opening possessions for an early 9-3 lead. Despite La Salle (4-8) staying competitive and narrowing the gap, High Point closed out the first half with a 35-29 lead. As the second half began, the Panthers quickly regained control, thanks to two three-pointers from Martinez and another from a teammate, extending their lead to as much as 14 points.
In his impactful performance, Martinez also sparked the team’s momentum by picking a steal and converting it into a layup that forced an Explorers timeout. The Panthers maintained their lead throughout the game, and in the final minutes, they successfully defended their double-digit lead to secure the 12-point win.
Aquino contributed significantly as well, finishing with 10 points and eight rebounds, while Hausen set a new career-high with 11 points. Looking ahead, High Point will face Bryant University at 7:00 p.m. on December 22 at the Qubein Center, aiming to build on this positive momentum as the season progresses.