HPU men’s basketball hosts Coppin State to open the season

HIGH POINT, NC – The High Point University men’s basketball team opens the regular season at home against Coppin State University on Wednesday, November 6 at 7:00 p.m. This will be the first matchup in program history between the Panthers and Eagles.

Students will receive a Hussle Chain when the doors open at 5:30 p.m. The halftime act will be performed by “Tyler the Amazing Balance Act.”

Men’s Basketball High Point vs. Coppin State University
Wednesday November 6th | 7 p.m. | High Point, NC | Qubein Center

Watch Live ESPN+ | LiveStats | Listen on the radio

Records: Climax 0:0, CSU 0:0
This is their first meeting

The Panthers returned eight players from last year’s roster and added 12 newcomers with six transfers and six newcomers. The reigning Big South regular season champions are ready to return to action after a historic 27-win season under the leadership of their first-year head coach Alan Huss in 2023-24.



The matchup
The Panthers and Eagles will meet for the first time in program history. Coppin State competes in the MEAC Conference and finished the 2023-24 season with an overall record of 2-27 and a conference record of 1-13. The Eagles are coached by Larry Stewart (Coppin State ’06), who is entering his second season with the team. Recently, CSU opened the 2024-25 season at Wake Forest and lost 64-49, led by Derrius Ward with 19 points and five rebounds.

Out last time
High Point hosted Averett University at the Qubein Center on Saturday evening for a season-opening exhibition game. The Panthers defeated the Cougars 85-57 and were led by the transfer guard D’Maurian Williams with 25 points on 4:7 from three-point range. Freshmen forward Braden Hausen scored in double figures with 18 points in his season debut and bounced back there too, going 4 of 7 from deep.

Notable player and team notes



Week 1 Rankings – CollegeInsider.com
High Point is ranked No. 9 in Week 1 in CollegeInsider.com’s Mid-Major Top 25 rankings. The Panthers’ highest finish in the rankings last season was 9th.

Bracketeer.com Preseason All-American Awards
On the Bracketeer’s Preseason All-American Watch List Kimani Hamilton was named a first-team receiver Kezza Giffa was called up to the second team.

Preseason polls
On October 15, the Big South Conference announced the Preseason Men’s Basketball Poll for the upcoming 2024-25 season. High Point University ranked 1st in the survey Kezza Giffa was named preseason player of the year Kimani Hamilton & Juslin Bodo Bodo were called up to the first team.

HPU statistics rankings after the 2023-24 season
-9. in the NCAA in PPG (83.9)
-1. Ranks #1 in NCAA in free throws made (20.1)
-6. in the NCAA in free throw attempts (25.8)
-15. in the NCAA in free throw % (77.8)
-16. in the NCAA in rebounds (40.00)
-25. in the NCAA in win % (75%)
-Highest national Kenpom ranking in program history (114th)
-Highest national NET ranking in program history (110th)
-8. in Kenpom Raw Offensive Efficiency
-10. in Kenpom Offensive Rebound%

2023-24 Regular Season CHAMPS
HPU was named the outright Big South regular season champion for the first time since 2015-16. This was HPU’s fifth Big South regular season title and second overall title.

The 2023–24 season recorded the most wins in the D1 era
With a record of 27-9, the Panthers set the record for most wins in a single season.

The 2023-24 season featured the most wins by a first-year head coach
Coach Huss earned the most wins as a first-year head coach in the entire history of the men’s basketball program. He also recorded the most wins by a new head coach in the country last season.

Bodo-Bodo Awards
Juslin Bodo Bodo was named National Freshman of the Year and a Kyle Macy Freshman of the Year finalist.

Lou Henson Award finalist
Giffa was named a finalist for the Lou Henson Award.

2023-24 Big South Postseason Awards
Head coach Alan Huss was named Big South Coach of the Year, becoming the second coach in program history to receive the award (Scott Cherry). Duke Miles was named Big South Newcomer of the Year and Juslin Bodo Bodo was named Defensive and Freshman Player of the Year. Duke Miles, Kimani Hamilton & Kezza Giffa were named to the First Team All-Conference selection Juslin Bodo Bodo And Titas Sargiunas were named to the All-Freshman team.

#GoHPU x #OnTheProwl