The regular season Big South champions, the **High Point Panthers**carried on from their superb in-conference form and really put on a show to fly past the Winthrop Eagles in a game where they never looked out of control.
After two years as an associate coach, Flynn Clayman only took over the reigns in North Carolina less than a year ago. In that time the 37 year-old has re-shaped the roster almost entirely and still carried on the unprecedented success of his predecessor. After today's crucial win, the upcoming NCAA Tournament will be only the second appeared in history for the Panthers.
Following their improbable late comeback against **Charleston Southern**and a tight two point victory vs Presbyterian in the tournament Semi-Final, Winthrop started the game full of confidence as their Senior Guard Daylen Berry drained a 23-foot three to open the scoring.
A tight first ten minutes proceeded as both teams were struggling to find their rhythm in the attacking channels, proceeding this is when High Point really began to flex their muscles and grab control of the game.
The Panthers went on an 11-1 scoring run with around three minutes left before half-time and despite a late flurry of layups from the Eagles, High Point found themselves with a healthy six point advantage going into the break.
The High Point faithful in full voice as their Panthers book their ticket into the Big Dance. - Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images.
Unfortunately for Winthrop, their opponents momentum never wavered as the second half of the contest went on. High Point's Senior Guard Rob Martin was a thorn in the side of the Eagles all game long, the 21 year-old's tough contested layup gave his team a twelve point lead with a little over ten minutes left on the clock.
High Point exploited the Eagles's discipline issues extremely effectively in the second period with their Senior Guard Kody Clouet being guilty of giving away three cheap fouls that the Panthers would cash in at the charity stripe to extended their advantage.
Winthrop shot just 58% from the free throw line (18-31) compared to High Points 84% (27-32). This inefficiency from the line twinned with a disastrous 24% three-point success rate meant the Eagles had little chance to properly compete throughout the game.
The Eagles did show a level of spirit as they narrowed the deficit to just ten with 7 minutes to play but High Point's suffocating defence meant Winthrop really struggled to get close outs and consistently attack the rim. In particular the Panthers Forward duo of Owen Aquino and Terry Anderson were exceptional at slowing and shutting down their South Carolina rivals.
Senior Forward Cam'Ron Fletcher hit a dagger three to extended the gap to 14 with five on the clock to put his Panthers well in truly in-front of the finish line as Winthrop began to accept their fate.
Martin lead High Point and the game as a whole with a crucial 24 points.
High Point's Rob Martin during his time at the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks last season. - Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images.
High Point's flying forwards, Fletcher and Anderson combined for a massive 35 points with the former adding an unbelievable nineteen rebounds off the bench.
As for Winthrop, Senior Guard Kareem Rozier led the Eagles with 22 points. In his last collegiate game, Center Logan Duncomb added 17 points and ten rebounds off the bench and was visibly emotional when he fouled out of the contest with 3 minutes to play.
Following today's impressive victory, High Point will be eagerly awaiting Selection Sunday on the 15th of March where they will find out their Round 1 opponents and full tournament bracket.