High Point University advances past UNC Asheville, but title-game matchup remains unresolved

Saturday afternoon at 8: 30 p. m. ET, high point university completed a second-half comeback to beat UNC Asheville 75–71 in Johnson City, Tennessee, in the Big South tournament semifinals. The win is confirmed to send the Panthers to the Big South Basketball Championship game, yet the specific championship opponent and tip time were not confirmed in the provided coverage and will be clarified when the conference announces the matchup.

High Point University’s second-half rally seals a 75–71 semifinal win

High Point trailed at halftime but rallied after the break to secure the 75–71 victory over UNC Asheville, a result confirmed in the game account from Johnson City, Tennessee. The contest remained tight throughout, featuring nine ties and nine lead changes, and neither team built a double-digit lead.

UNC Asheville carried a 34–33 halftime advantage after Daniel Thomas threw down a dunk with 45 seconds left in the half. High Point responded early in the second half, moving back in front while Asheville continued to answer, tying the game five times and retaking the lead twice. With under 13 minutes to play, Toyaz Solomon tied it at 46 on a jumper, but the Panthers answered with back-to-back baskets and carried a five-point edge into the under-12 media timeout. From there, Asheville did not regain the lead, while also keeping High Point’s advantage from growing beyond nine points.

High Point finished shooting 45. 6% from the field after improving from 38. 7% in the first half to 53. 8% in the second half. UNC Asheville shot 42. 9% overall, hit five three-pointers, and went 18-for-24 at the free-throw line.

UNC Asheville’s Toyaz Solomon posts 30 points as season ends 15–17

Solomon led UNC Asheville with 30 points and 13 rebounds, recording his ninth double-double of the season. He scored 13 of the Bulldogs’ first 15 points, finished 10-for-20 from the field, made two of Asheville’s five three-pointers, and went 8-for-11 at the free-throw line.

Kameron Taylor and Justin Wright each added 16 points. Taylor went 4-for-14 from the field, hit a three-pointer, and finished 7-for-9 at the line; Wright shot 6-for-14, made a three-pointer, and went 3-for-4 on free throws. Daniel Thomas collected eight rebounds and, along with Taylor, played all 40 minutes.

UNC Asheville’s season-ending record is confirmed at 15–17.

Flynn Clayman points to experience; the championship-game details still need confirmation

High Point head coach Flynn Clayman described his team’s response after falling behind as a key separator in the semifinal. “We handled a lot of toughness; we didn’t break when we got down, ” Clayman said in remarks included in the provided coverage. Clayman also credited UNC Asheville coach Mike Morrell and noted Asheville’s short turnaround after playing late the previous night.

One account emphasized how High Point’s roster experience has shaped its tournament run, stating HPU ranks 36th on KenPom in Division I experience (2. 22 years) and that eight Panthers came from previous schools. Those figures are presented as stated in the provided coverage; independent confirmation was not included in the context.

Individually, Terry Anderson’s production was highlighted in the same coverage: Anderson scored 25 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, recorded his second double-double of the Big South tournament, and is averaging 16. 0 points and 6. 1 rebounds per game this season after appearing in 26 games last season and averaging 4. 5 points and 2. 8 rebounds. Rob Martin added 18 points and five assists, and one described play had Martin finding Chase Johnston for a 3-pointer that made the score 71–62 and represented High Point’s largest lead. Still, the provided material does not confirm the championship opponent, the tip time, or the exact date of the title game.

The next clarity point is the formal Big South championship game announcement: once the conference confirms the matchup and schedule in ET, that will resolve the primary remaining open question around high point university’s immediate path to the title.