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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The High Point University Panthers travel to Daytona Beach, Florida for their MTE at the Boardwalk Battle. The first game of the tournament takes place on Thursday, November 20 at 2:30 p.m. at the Ocean Center on the Grand Strand of Daytona Beach.
Men’s Basketball – Boardwalk Battle vs UIC
Thursday, November 20 | 2:30 p.m. | Daytona Beach, Fla. | Ocean Center
Watch Live Baller TV | Bracket
Records:
High Point 4-1, UIC 3-1
First Meeting
The Matchup
This will be the first meeting between the two teams. UIC is 3-1 to start the season, with its lone loss to Oregon State, 76-73.Three players are averaging 10+ points per game for the Flames, led by Ahmad Henderson II (16.8ppg), Andy Johnson (15.0 ppg) and Elijah Crawford (13.0). Mekhi Lowery is leading the team on the boards averaging 6.3 per game. The Flames are coached by Rob Ehsan who is in his second season at UIC.
Last time out
High Point bounced back on Monday night with a 93-50 victory over the visiting Canisius Golden Griffins. The 43-point victory marked the largest margin of victory over a D1 team in program history. The Panthers were led by Rob Martin with 17 points after going 8-for-9 from the field and handing out a career-high five assists. Chase Johnston had a night from deep range knocking down five threes, four of which were in the first half, for 15 points. Overall HPU shot, 58.1% from the field, 40.6% from the three and 80.0% from the free throw line.
Notable Player & Team Notes
Largest Margin of Victory Over D1 Opponent
With the 93-50 win over Canisius HPU recorded the largest margin of victory over a D1 opponent. The record was set in 2023-24 with the 93-51 win over Coppin State.
1st Player of the Week Honors
Cam’Ron Fletcher was named the Big South Player of the Week for the first week of college hoops. He averaged 18.0 points per game and 9.5 rebounds per game after posting a double-double on opening night at the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon with 11 points and 10 rebounds, before recording a new career-high with 25 points against Averett and one rebound shy from another double-double performance. Across both games, he shot 65.2% from the field and 67% from the line.
Field of 68 MM Coach of the Week
Coach Clayman was named the Field of 68 Mid-Major Coach of the Week after picking up two wins against Furman and Averett.
Most Points Scored in D1 Era
HPU defeated Averett on homecoming weekend 127-52, which was the most points scored in D1 program history. The 75 points margin was the second largest margin of victory in program history over any opponent.
1st Win for Clayman Era
High Point defeated Furman in the season-opener at the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon, 97-71 for first-year head coach Flynn Clayman‘s first win.
Continuing Success After Change
Coming off the most successful season ever for the Panthers after making it to March Madness the team’s energy has never been higher. The energy for this season all stems with the new first-year Head Coach Flynn Clayman who was appointed in April of 2025 after serving as the Associate Head Coach under Alan Huss last season.
Preseason Awards
High Point was picked again as the number one-ranked team in the Big South Preseason Poll for the second consecutive season and the fifth time in program history (2007-08, 2013-14, 2015-16, 2024-25, 2025-26). Rob Martin and Scotty Washington were picked to be on the First Team All-Conference as well. In the Blue-Ribbon Forecast HPU was picked preseason No. 1 and Martin was selected as the Preseason Newcomer of the Year. In two other preseason polls, High Point was picked fourth in the Field of 68 Mid-Major poll and eighth in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25® poll. Since cracking the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25® on December 26, 2023, High Point has remained in the top 25 for 36 consecutive weeks. The highest ranking that HPU received in program history was No. 5 on February 5, 2024.
Notable Transfers, Returning Players, and New Freshman
This season, the Panthers have a totally new squad and lineup looking to continue the standard of success they have created after making a tournament appearance. There are eight transfers that have made High Point their new home. Cam’ron Fletcher, a graduate student who has played at Kentucky, Florida State and Xavier, is bringing experienced veteran leadership to the team. He has already won a transfer award back in 2021-2022 as the ACC Impact Transfer per CBS Sports. Rob Martin who started at Indiana State and then Southeastern Missouri State University, is a senior who also brings some veteran leadership and was named to the Big South Preseason First-Team All-Conference selection. Another leader for the Panthers is Owen Aquino, who is coming to HPU after playing at Eastern Florida State and Liberty, a team that also won its league title and made the 2024-25 NCAA Tournament. Aquino a native of Spain, shares the court alongside Spain native Conrad Martinez, who spent his first two seasons at the University of Arizona. Scotty Washingtonis a senior transfer that played for CBU and CSUN, where he grabbed a 2024-2025 All-Big West Honorable Mention and was named to the Big South First-Team All-Conference selection. Vincent Brady II and Youssouf Singare are the last two transfers for the Panthers that also help strengthen the new identity and game plan that the Panthers have for this season. Singare transferred from the University of Connecticut and Brady II joins the Panthers from Missouri State University.
2024-25 Historic Season
High Point made history during the 2024-25 season by winning its first-ever Big South Tournament title and earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. HPU finished with an overall record of 29-6, which tied for the most wins in Big South program history (Winthrop, 2006-07) and the most wins in HPU program history. The Panthers finished the regular season with a 26-5 record and a 14-2 league record. The 26 regular-season wins is the most in program history and tied the Big South regular-season wins record with Coastal Carolina’s 2010-11 season (26-4). High Point’s offense finished 3rd in the NCAA in KenPom rankings for raw offensive efficiency, trailing only Duke and Gonzaga, and were ahead of 2025 NCAA National Champion Florida.
#GoHPU x #OnTheProwl
