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High Point wasted no time asserting control. The Panthers shot an eye-popping 63.9% in the first half and finished the game at 58% overall, including 45% from three-point range. Every possession seemed to flow through efficient ball movement and crisp shot selection, while Furman was plagued by costly turnovers. The Paladins coughed up the ball 22 times, leading directly to 25 High Point points—a margin that proved insurmountable.
Even when Furman managed to create good looks, the shots didn’t fall. The Paladins shot 43.9% from the field and just 26.9% from deep, struggling to build consistency in half-court sets. The energy was there, but the execution lagged behind.
Johnston Shines in a Gritty Double-Double
If there was one bright spot, it came from senior forward Charles Johnston, who powered through the adversity with 16 points and 12 rebounds, including four on the offensive glass. His effort gave Furman second-chance opportunities that often went unconverted but showed his leadership in a difficult night.
“We never really got rolling,” Johnston admitted afterward, summing up a performance where effort met frustration. His physicality inside was a reminder that Furman’s identity still rests in its toughness and willingness to compete on the boards—an area where they actually out-rebounded High Point 41–28.
Supporting Cast Struggles to Find Flow
Ben VanderWal added 11 points in 34 minutes, providing a steady presence despite limited touches, while Alex Wilkins came off the bench to contribute another 11. However, the supporting cast struggled to sustain any rhythm. The Paladins’ offense never found the balance or spacing needed to counter High Point’s perimeter speed, often forced into rushed decisions and tough looks late in the shot clock.
High Point’s Guards Steal the Show
For High Point, the backcourt trio of Rob Martin, Owen Aquino, and Conrad Martinez orchestrated a near-perfect offensive performance. Martin led all scorers with 22 points and four steals, setting the tone on both ends. Aquino and Martinez each finished with 17 points, combining for 6-of-9 from beyond the arc.
Their precision and pace kept Furman off balance all night, and defensively, they helped the Panthers rack up 17 steals. Every loose ball or lazy pass seemed to fall into their hands, turning into fast-break points that broke Furman’s composure.
Where the Game Slipped Away
The story of the night was simple but painful: turnovers, missed threes, and transition lapses. Furman’s 22 giveaways halted every potential run and disrupted offensive chemistry. Despite dominating the glass, the Paladins produced only nine second-chance points, wasting opportunities that could have shifted momentum.
High Point also outpaced Furman in transition, recording 14 fast-break points to the Paladins’ four. When the Panthers weren’t forcing steals, they were sprinting downcourt to capitalize, punishing Furman’s slow defensive rotations. The Paladins’ usual discipline was missing, and against a team as opportunistic as High Point, that gap was costly.
Richey Looks to Regroup Before Home Opener
Head coach Bob Richey now faces the challenge of steadying the ship before Furman’s home opener on Friday against Presbyterian. The Paladins showed grit on the boards and flashes of potential in stretches, but they’ll need to tighten ball control and rediscover their offensive flow to avoid another early-season stumble.
Losses like this can define or refine a team. For a program built on poise and precision, Richey will hope it’s the latter. The season is young, and the lessons from Rock Hill could become the foundation for a turnaround. As one veteran fan remarked after the game, “It’s not how you start—it’s how you respond.”
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