WINTHR

HIGHPT

Bobby Pettiford sparks huge rally and High Point tops Winthrop for Big South title, first NCAA bid

AP
Mar 09, 2025

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (AP) Bobby Pettiford scored 17 points off the bench and High Point Panthers rallied from a 15-point second half deficit to defeat Winthrop Eagles 81-69 in the Big South Championship title game on Sunday, giving the Panthers their first trip to the NCAA Tournament.

Winthrop led by 10 points at halftime and 48-33 with 15 minutes remaining. Pettiford nailed a 3-pointer and followed it with a layup to start a 14-0 run that got High Point within 48-47. Three and a half minutes later, Trae Benham's three-point play broke a 52-all tie and High Point led for the first time since it was 14-13.

The Panthers (29-5) led the rest of the way although Winthrop was within 75-69 with a minute to go. However, the Eagles did not score again and the Panthers went 6-for-6 from the free-throw line to close out their first Big South Championship title. High Point has won the Big South regular season title six times.

The Panthers' 14th straight win was due in large part to 50 points from their bench, 44 in the second half. In addition to Pettiford's 17 points, Abdoulaye Thiam had 12 points, Benham had eight points and 10 rebounds, and Terry Anderson added eight points. Kezza Giffa, who scored 16 points, was the only starter with more than six points.

Winthrop (23-11) had five players reach double-digits in scoring. Kelton Talford led the Eagles with 15 points, followed by Bryce Baker with 11, Nick Johnson with 11, Kasen Harrison with 10 and K.J. Doucet with 10 points to go with nine rebounds.

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1st Half
WINT
Eagles
39
HIPT
Panthers
29

Time		Play	Score
20:00		(Eagles gains possession)
19:47		Juslin Bodo Bodo blocks Kelton Talford's two point layup
19:45		Kelton Talford offensive rebound
19:34		Juslin Bodo Bodo blocks Tommy Kamarad's two point layup
19:32		Kimani Hamilton defensive rebound
19:07		Nick Johnson blocks Chase Johnston's three point jump shot
19:05		K.J. Doucet defensive rebound
19:00		Nick Johnson misses three point jump shot
18:58		Kezza Giffa defensive rebound
18:49		Jump ball. Kezza Giffa vs. Kasen Harrison (Panthers gains possession)
18:41	+3	Kezza Giffa makes three point jump shot (D'Maurian Williams assists)	0-3
18:28		Kasen Harrison misses two point layup
18:26		Chase Johnston defensive rebound
18:18	+2	D'Maurian Williams makes two point layup	0-5
18:01	+2	Nick Johnson makes two point jump shot	2-5
17:46	+2	Juslin Bodo Bodo makes two point alley-oop dunk (Kezza Giffa assists)	2-7
17:30		Kasen Harrison misses two point layup
17:28		Juslin Bodo Bodo defensive rebound
17:16		Kezza Giffa misses three point jump shot
17:14		Juslin Bodo Bodo offensive rebound
17:10	+2	Juslin Bodo Bodo makes two point dunk	2-9
17:03		Chase Johnston shooting foul (K.J. Doucet draws the foul)
17:03		K.J. Doucet misses regular free throw 1 of 2
17:03	+1	K.J. Doucet makes regular free throw 2 of 2	3-9
16:47		Chase Johnston misses three point jump shot
16:45		Juslin Bodo Bodo offensive rebound
16:42		Kelton Talford blocks Juslin Bodo Bodo's two point layup
16:40		Bryce Baker defensive rebound
16:33	+3	K.J. Doucet makes three point jump shot (Tommy Kamarad assists)	6-9
16:19		Chase Johnston misses three point jump shot
16:17		Kelton Talford defensive rebound
16:08	+3	Tommy Kamarad makes three point jump shot (Kasen Harrison assists)	9-9
15:44	+3	D'Maurian Williams makes three point jump shot (Kimani Hamilton assists)	9-12
15:27		Kelton Talford turnover (lost ball) (D'Maurian Williams steals)
14:57		D'Maurian Williams misses two point jump shot
14:55		Kasen Harrison defensive rebound
14:46		Tommy Kamarad misses three point jump shot
14:44		Kimani Hamilton defensive rebound
14:36		Bobby Pettiford misses two point layup
14:34		K.J. Doucet defensive rebound
14:27		Bryce Baker misses three point jump shot
14:25		Juslin Bodo Bodo defensive rebound
14:17	+2	Kimani Hamilton makes two point layup	9-14
13:59	+2	Kasen Harrison makes two point jump shot	11-14
13:29		Bobby Pettiford misses two point jump shot
13:27		K.J. Doucet defensive rebound
13:21		TV timeout
13:10	+2	Nick Johnson makes two point jump shot	13-14
12:54		Chase Johnston misses three point jump shot
12:52		Paul Jones III defensive rebound
12:41		Nick Johnson misses two point layup
12:39		Terry Anderson defensive rebound
12:32		Abdoulaye Thiam misses three point jump shot
12:30		Logan Duncomb defensive rebound
12:18	+2	Logan Duncomb makes two point hook shot	15-14
11:59		Chase Johnston misses three point jump shot
11:57		Simon Hildebrandt offensive rebound
11:49		Simon Hildebrandt misses two point jump shot
11:47		Logan Duncomb defensive rebound
11:41		Isaiah Wilson misses three point jump shot
11:39		Abdoulaye Thiam defensive rebound
11:34		Simon Hildebrandt misses three point jump shot
11:32		Paul Jones III defensive rebound
11:13	+2	Bryce Baker makes two point jump shot	17-14
10:57		Bobby Pettiford misses two point jump shot
10:55		Eagles defensive rebound
10:55		Simon Hildebrandt personal foul
10:55		TV timeout
10:41		Nick Johnson misses two point layup
10:39		Kelton Talford offensive rebound
10:35	+2	Kelton Talford makes two point layup	19-14
10:11		Kezza Giffa misses two point layup
10:09		Paul Jones III defensive rebound
9:59		Paul Jones III misses three point jump shot
9:57		Panthers defensive rebound
9:57		K.J. Doucet personal foul
9:41		Kezza Giffa misses three point jump shot
9:39		Kasen Harrison defensive rebound
9:19	+2	Kasen Harrison makes two point layup	21-14
8:59		Kimani Hamilton misses two point layup
8:57		Juslin Bodo Bodo offensive rebound
8:54	+2	Juslin Bodo Bodo makes two point layup	21-16
8:33	+3	Nick Johnson makes three point jump shot (K.J. Doucet assists)	24-16
8:17		Kezza Giffa turnover (bad pass)
8:07		Bobby Pettiford shooting foul (Nick Johnson draws the foul)
8:07		Nick Johnson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
8:07	+1	Nick Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	25-16
7:50	+2	Trae Benham makes two point jump shot	25-18
7:38		Nick Johnson turnover (lost ball) (Kimani Hamilton steals)
7:26		D'Maurian Williams misses three point jump shot
7:23		Eagles defensive rebound
7:23		TV timeout
7:05		Logan Duncomb turnover (lost ball) (D'Maurian Williams steals)
6:58		Kimani Hamilton turnover (lost ball) (Tommy Kamarad steals)
6:47		Nick Johnson misses three point jump shot
6:45		Kasen Harrison offensive rebound
6:40	+3	Bryce Baker makes three point jump shot (Kasen Harrison assists)	28-18
6:20		Josh Ibukunoluwa misses two point layup
6:18		Paul Jones III defensive rebound
6:03		Kasen Harrison misses two point jump shot
6:01		Kezza Giffa defensive rebound
5:54		Kezza Giffa turnover (bad pass) (Kasen Harrison steals)
5:47	+3	Bryce Baker makes three point jump shot (Paul Jones III assists)	31-18
5:27		Bobby Pettiford misses two point layup
5:25		K.J. Doucet defensive rebound
5:06	+2	Kelton Talford makes two point layup	33-18
5:03		Panthers 30 second timeout
4:50		Kelton Talford blocks Kimani Hamilton's two point layup
4:48		Kimani Hamilton offensive rebound
4:44	+3	Kezza Giffa makes three point jump shot (Kimani Hamilton assists)	33-21
4:23	+3	Tommy Kamarad makes three point jump shot (Kelton Talford assists)	36-21
3:55	+2	Kezza Giffa makes two point jump shot	36-23
3:40		Kelton Talford turnover (bad pass)
3:36		Kimani Hamilton turnover (bad pass)
3:36		TV timeout
3:21		Kasen Harrison misses three point jump shot
3:16		Panthers defensive rebound
3:03	+2	Bobby Pettiford makes two point jump shot	36-25
2:39		K.J. Doucet misses three point jump shot
2:37		Juslin Bodo Bodo defensive rebound
2:29	+2	Bobby Pettiford makes two point layup	36-27
2:27		Eagles 30 second timeout
2:04	+2	Nick Johnson makes two point jump shot	38-27
2:04		Juslin Bodo Bodo shooting foul (Nick Johnson draws the foul)
2:04	+1	Nick Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 1	39-27
1:48		Kezza Giffa misses three point jump shot
1:46		K.J. Doucet defensive rebound
1:37		Bryce Baker misses three point jump shot
1:35		Juslin Bodo Bodo defensive rebound
1:27	+2	Kezza Giffa makes two point layup	39-29
1:18		Kasen Harrison turnover (traveling)
1:02		Kimani Hamilton misses two point jump shot
1:00		Kimani Hamilton offensive rebound
0:56		Bryce Baker blocks Kimani Hamilton's two point layup
0:56		Panthers offensive rebound
0:46		Kimani Hamilton misses three point jump shot
0:42		Panthers offensive rebound
0:41		Bobby Pettiford turnover (bad pass) (Nick Johnson steals)
0:41		Kezza Giffa personal foul
0:29		Bobby Pettiford blocks K.J. Doucet's two point layup
0:29		Eagles offensive rebound
0:12		Kasen Harrison misses two point jump shot
0:10		Kelton Talford offensive rebound
0:09		Eagles turnover (shot clock violation)
0:02		Kezza Giffa misses three point jump shot
0:00		Eagles defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
WINT
Eagles
30
HIPT
Panthers
52

Time		Play	Score
19:39	+2	Kelton Talford makes two point layup (Kasen Harrison assists)	41-29
19:04	+2	Kezza Giffa makes two point jump shot	41-31
18:53		Nick Johnson misses three point jump shot
18:51		D'Maurian Williams defensive rebound
18:32		Kezza Giffa turnover (traveling)
18:17	+2	K.J. Doucet makes two point layup	43-31
17:59		Chase Johnston misses three point jump shot
17:57		Tommy Kamarad defensive rebound
17:32		Juslin Bodo Bodo blocks K.J. Doucet's two point jump shot
17:31		Chase Johnston defensive rebound
17:31		Kasen Harrison personal foul
17:21		Chase Johnston misses three point jump shot
17:19		Kasen Harrison defensive rebound
17:14		K.J. Doucet misses three point jump shot
17:12		Bryce Baker offensive rebound
17:04		Kelton Talford misses two point layup
17:04		Kezza Giffa defensive rebound
17:04		Jump ball. (Panthers gains possession)
16:45		Kimani Hamilton misses two point layup
16:43		K.J. Doucet defensive rebound
16:37	+2	Logan Duncomb makes two point dunk (Kasen Harrison assists)	45-31
16:11	+2	Kimani Hamilton makes two point jump shot	45-33
15:53	+3	Bryce Baker makes three point jump shot (Kasen Harrison assists)	48-33
15:36		Kezza Giffa misses two point jump shot
15:34		Paul Jones III defensive rebound
15:34		Paul Jones III turnover (bad pass)
15:34		TV timeout
15:16		Bobby Pettiford misses two point jump shot
15:14		Trae Benham offensive rebound
15:03	+3	Bobby Pettiford makes three point jump shot	48-36
14:44		Kasen Harrison misses two point jump shot
14:42		Logan Duncomb offensive rebound
14:40		Logan Duncomb turnover (Bobby Pettiford steals)
14:35	+2	Bobby Pettiford makes two point layup	48-38
14:06		Tommy Kamarad misses three point jump shot
14:04		Trae Benham defensive rebound
13:58	+2	Terry Anderson makes two point layup	48-40
13:50		Eagles 30 second timeout
13:50		TV timeout
13:37		K.J. Doucet misses two point layup
13:35		Bobby Pettiford defensive rebound
13:24	+3	Simon Hildebrandt makes three point jump shot (Terry Anderson assists)	48-43
13:05		Nick Johnson turnover (bad pass) (Bobby Pettiford steals)
13:05		Kelton Talford personal foul
12:48	+2	Simon Hildebrandt makes two point layup	48-45
12:46		Abdoulaye Thiam technical foul
12:46		Bryce Baker misses technical free throw 1 of 2
12:46		Bryce Baker misses technical free throw 2 of 2
12:46		Eagles offensive rebound
12:36		Kasen Harrison misses two point layup
12:34		Trae Benham defensive rebound
12:29	+2	Bobby Pettiford makes two point layup	48-47
11:58		Kasen Harrison misses three point jump shot
11:56		Kelton Talford offensive rebound
11:45		Nick Johnson misses two point layup
11:43		Terry Anderson defensive rebound
11:37		Abdoulaye Thiam misses three point jump shot
11:35		Nick Johnson defensive rebound
11:35		TV timeout
11:14	+2	Kelton Talford makes two point jump shot	50-47
11:10		Kelton Talford personal foul
10:47		Trae Benham misses three point jump shot
10:45		K.J. Doucet defensive rebound
10:28		K.J. Doucet misses two point jump shot
10:26		Bobby Pettiford defensive rebound
10:13		Bobby Pettiford misses two point layup
10:11		Bobby Pettiford offensive rebound
10:08	+3	Trae Benham makes three point jump shot (Bobby Pettiford assists)	50-50
9:39	+2	Tommy Kamarad makes two point layup (Kasen Harrison assists)	52-50
9:27	+2	Kezza Giffa makes two point layup	52-52
8:57		K.J. Doucet turnover (bad pass) (Trae Benham steals)
8:55	+2	Trae Benham makes two point layup	52-54
8:55		Bryce Baker shooting foul (Trae Benham draws the foul)
8:55	+1	Trae Benham makes regular free throw 1 of 1	52-55
8:42		Abdoulaye Thiam shooting foul
8:42	+1	Kasen Harrison makes regular free throw 1 of 2	53-55
8:42	+1	Kasen Harrison makes regular free throw 2 of 2	54-55
8:27		Bobby Pettiford misses two point layup
8:25		Kelton Talford defensive rebound
8:16		Jump ball. (Eagles gains possession)
8:10		Kelton Talford turnover (lost ball) (Terry Anderson steals)
8:05	+2	Terry Anderson makes two point layup	54-57
8:05		Kasen Harrison misses two point layup
8:03		Trae Benham defensive rebound
7:40	+3	Abdoulaye Thiam makes three point jump shot (Bobby Pettiford assists)	54-60
7:40		Eagles 30 second timeout
7:40		TV timeout
7:06		Nick Johnson misses three point jump shot
7:04		Trae Benham defensive rebound
6:56		Simon Hildebrandt turnover (lost ball) (K.J. Doucet steals)
6:48	+2	Kasen Harrison makes two point layup	56-60
6:29		Terry Anderson misses two point layup
6:27		Terry Anderson offensive rebound
6:25		Terry Anderson misses two point jump shot
6:23		Terry Anderson offensive rebound
6:18	+2	Terry Anderson makes two point layup	56-62
6:02	+2	K.J. Doucet makes two point layup	58-62
6:02		Kezza Giffa shooting foul (K.J. Doucet draws the foul)
6:02		K.J. Doucet misses regular free throw 1 of 1
6:02		Trae Benham defensive rebound
5:43	+2	Terry Anderson makes two point layup (Bobby Pettiford assists)	58-64
5:33		Nick Johnson turnover (bad pass) (Trae Benham steals)
5:29	+2	Abdoulaye Thiam makes two point dunk	58-66
5:19		Trae Benham blocks K.J. Doucet's three point jump shot
5:19		Kelton Talford offensive rebound
5:19	+2	Kelton Talford makes two point jump shot	60-66
5:19		Simon Hildebrandt shooting foul (Kelton Talford draws the foul)
5:19	+1	Kelton Talford makes regular free throw 1 of 1	61-66
5:02	+2	Bobby Pettiford makes two point jump shot	61-68
4:38		K.J. Doucet misses three point jump shot
4:36		Trae Benham defensive rebound
4:16		Simon Hildebrandt misses three point jump shot
4:14		Trae Benham offensive rebound
3:55		Bobby Pettiford misses two point jump shot
3:53		K.J. Doucet defensive rebound
3:49	+2	K.J. Doucet makes two point layup	63-68
3:33	+2	Bobby Pettiford makes two point layup (Terry Anderson assists)	63-70
3:10	+2	Kelton Talford makes two point layup	65-70
2:42	+2	Bobby Pettiford makes two point layup	65-72
2:30	+2	Kasen Harrison makes two point layup	67-72
2:02	+3	Abdoulaye Thiam makes three point jump shot (Bobby Pettiford assists)	67-75
2:01		Panthers 30 second timeout
2:01		TV timeout
1:49		Kasen Harrison misses two point layup
1:47		Trae Benham defensive rebound
1:33		K.J. Doucet personal foul
1:33		Panthers 30 second timeout
1:15		Bobby Pettiford misses two point jump shot
1:13		K.J. Doucet defensive rebound
1:09		Bryce Baker misses three point jump shot
1:07		Kelton Talford offensive rebound
1:03	+2	Kelton Talford makes two point jump shot	69-75
0:54		Kasen Harrison personal foul
0:43		Bryce Baker personal foul (Kezza Giffa draws the foul)
0:43	+1	Kezza Giffa makes regular free throw 1 of 2	69-76
0:43	+1	Kezza Giffa makes regular free throw 2 of 2	69-77
0:30		Nick Johnson misses three point jump shot
0:28		Abdoulaye Thiam defensive rebound
0:27		K.J. Doucet personal foul (Abdoulaye Thiam draws the foul)
0:27	+1	Abdoulaye Thiam makes regular free throw 1 of 2	69-78
0:27	+1	Abdoulaye Thiam makes regular free throw 2 of 2	69-79
0:24		K.J. Doucet misses three point jump shot
0:22		Trae Benham defensive rebound
0:14		K.J. Doucet personal foul (Abdoulaye Thiam draws the foul)
0:14	+1	Abdoulaye Thiam makes regular free throw 1 of 2	69-80
0:14	+1	Abdoulaye Thiam makes regular free throw 2 of 2	69-81
0:05		Bryce Baker misses three point jump shot
0:03		Terry Anderson defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

Terry Anderson defensive rebound