A home court helps but not normally as much as the difference between the basketball games played at Rock Hill Sports & Event Center and Timmons Arena on Monday evening.

High Point blitzed the Paladins at the Field of 68 Tipoff Marathon while the women’s team dominated North Greenville back in Greenville.

The Panthers scored 55 first-half points and shot out the Rock Hill lights en route to a 97-71 victory over Furman in the men’s game.

High Point (1-0) won 29 games last season and won the Big South Conference. The Panthers hit 23/36 (.640) first-half field goals and led, 55-40, at halftime. They broke open the game with a 10-point run and forced 11 first-half turnovers.

In the second half, High Point (1-0)connected on 5/11 triples and pushed its lead to as many as 32 points before claiming the 26-point victory. Rob Martin led the way for the Panthers with 22 points and four steals, while Owen Aquino and Conrad Martinez scored 17 points apiece. Terry Anderson scored 12 points and Cam’Ron Fletcher posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards.

The Panthers totaled 25 points off 22 Furman turnovers and registered 52 points in the paint.

Senior Charles Johnston led the Paladins (0-10) with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Ben Vander Wal, Alex Wilkins and Asa Thomas each added 11.

 Furman shot .439 from the field and converted 14/19 trips to the foul line but hit just 7/26 three-point tries. The Paladins managed a 41-28 edge on the glass, including 15 offensive rebounds.

The Paladins return to Timmons Arena for the home opener at 7 p.m. on Friday, facing Sun Belt Conference champion Troy.

Take a look at the stats here.

Clare Coyle scored 16 points and Furman opened newly renovated Timmons Arena in style with an 85-27 victory over North Greenville.

After playing its home games a year ago at North Greenville’s Hayes Gymnasium during Timmons Arena’s renovation, the Paladins used a driving layup from Raina McGowens to score the first regular-season points in the new facility on the way to an early 9-0 lead.

Furman(1-0) led 24-4 after one period and took a 42-11 into intermission.

 Coyle, a 6- 1 sophomore forward and preseason All-SoCon selection, hit 7/10 shots and 2/4 free throws, and she complemented her 16 points with six rebounds and a pair of steals in 19 minutes of playing time.

 McGowens, a sophomore guard, followed with 14 points, and sophomore guard Alyssa Ervin, a transfer from Elon, rounded out Furman’s double-figure scoring trio with 13 points.

 All 12 Paladins in uniform played and scored in the contest, which saw Furman shoot .464 (32/69) from the field and out-rebound North Greenville, 55-41. 

 Coyle, Ervin, and freshman forward Tyriana Berry pulled down six rebounds to pace the Paladins.

 Sophomore guard Chantelle Stuart made nine assists and three steals.

 The Trailblazers shot just .179 from the field, making 12/67 shots. Kayla Gaston scored seven points, and Janiya Williams grabbed seven rebounds.

 Furman plays at Georgia on Thursday in a 6:30 p.m. contest.

Take a look at the stats here.

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