Turnovers Lead to Blue Hose Fourth Straight Loss

 The Presbyterian Blue Hose simply could not stop turning the ball over in Sunday’s 81-57 loss to the High Point Panthers.

The Blue Hose tied a season-high with 22 turnovers in the contest, last done in their first game of the season back on Dec. 2. High Point was able to capitalize on the Blue Hose mistakes, scoring 30 points off turnovers.

“Because of the turnovers, you can get out in transition,” said High Point head coach Tubby Smith. “And when Ahmil Flowers and Lydell(Elmore) are out in transition, they’re in the open court and that’s where they’re the best,” said coach Smith.

Flowers led the way for the Panthers. The freshman scored a career-high 20 points on 7-9 shooting. Lydell Elmore recorded his second double-double of the season, scoring 11 points to go along with 11 rebounds. Presbyterian had the second lowest scoring team defense coming into the contest, but could not control High Point’s offense as they shot 50.9% from the field.

The Blue Hose shot 43.6% from the field and got big contributions off the bench as 29 of their 51 points were scored by non-starters. Winston Hill scored a team-high 16 points in 34 minutes off the bench. But it didn’t help that Presbyterian’s leading scorer, Rayshon Harrison, was nearly invisible in his season-low seven minutes of action as he did not attempt a single shot.

After ending the first half being outscored 18-6 in the final 6:13 of play, Presbyterian tried putting a little pressure on the Panthers to begin the second half. The Blue Hose scored the first five points of the half and forced High Point into taking two shot clock violations. But the Panthers responded by putting together a 12-1 run, to take a 58-32 lead with 13:48 to play. The Blue Hose turned the ball over four times during that High Point run which lasted 3:56.

“I know they(Presbyterian) didn’t play their best game and I know coach Ferrell will have them ready tomorrow,” said coach Smith. 

The Blue Hose have now lost 12 of their last 14 matchups against the Panthers including their last two straight matchups.  Presbyterian is now 3-8 and fall to 1-6 in Big South play.

The Blue Hose will look to respond tomorrow as they play the second game of their two-game series with High Point tomorrow at 6 P.M. It will be the final time the Blue Hose play at Millis Center, a place where they have not won since 2012.