HIGH POINT, N.C. – Emanuel Richards led the way for Longwood men's basketball with 16 points, but High Point, the preseason Big South favorite, pulled away late behind 29 points from Terry Anderson on Saturday afternoon.
 
Anderson set a career high in points while going 10-14 from the floor and a perfect 8-8 from the foul line for the Panthers (14-3, 2-0 Big South). Owen Aquino added 15 points, and Rob Martin chipped in 12.
 
That was enough to overcome three players in double figures for Longwood (9-8, 1-1 Big South). Richards finished in double figures for the third time in four games with a team-high 16. Redd Thompson, Jr. added 15 points, and Jacoi Hutchinson scored 10.
 
The game was tight through the first five minutes. High Point used a mini-run to take a six-point lead, but Jaylen Benard cut it to one possession with a triple that made it 18-15 with 10:01 to go in the half.
 
A quick 7-0 spurt gave HPU an 11-point advantage, but the Lancers surged in the waning minutes of the first half.
 
Thompson hit a layup to kickstart a 10-3 Longwood run over a three-minute span, and Richards capped it with a triple and a free throw on consecutive possessions to cut the advantage to 37-34 with 2:16 to go in the half.
 
Anderson stemmed the Lancer tide with a layup, and the two sides traded blows for the rest of the half. Thompson hit the final shot of the half to cut the High Point lead to 42-40 at the break.
 
After halftime, Alphonzo Billups III tied the game at 46 apiece less than four minutes in, but an Anderson dunk gave High Point the lead and started a 9-0 Panther run that ultimately provided enough separation.
 
Longwood stays on the road with a trip to UNC Asheville on Wednesday, Jan. 7. Tip is set for 6:30 p.m., and the game will air on ESPN+.
 
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