ASHEVILLE, N.C. (Interstat) — Scotty Washington scored 26 points and High Point used a blistering offensive display to pull away from UNC Asheville 87-69 in a Big South Conference men’s basketball game Wednesday afternoon at Kimmel Arena.

The Panthers shot 61.7% from the field and connected on 10 of 19 attempts from 3-point range to secure a comfortable road victory to close the calendar year. High Point improved to 13-3 overall and 1-0 in conference play, while the Bulldogs fell to 6-9 and 0-1.

The game’s decisive sequence came late in the first half, turning a tight contest into a commanding lead the Panthers would never relinquish. With High Point leading 31-29 and under three minutes remaining before halftime, Washington ignited a 13-2 run to close the period. The junior guard from Los Angeles hit a 3-pointer, was fouled on a subsequent drive and made both free throws, then converted a steal into a fastbreak layup. Conrad Martinez capped the surge with a 3-pointer at the buzzer, sending the Panthers into the locker room with a 44-31 advantage.

That momentum carried into the second half, where High Point’s offensive efficiency stifled any hope of a Bulldogs rally. The Panthers opened the period by making seven of their first nine field goal attempts, extending their lead to 58-39 with just over 14 minutes to play. UNC Asheville never got closer than 15 points the rest of the way.

Washington’s 26-point performance came on 8-of-11 shooting, including 4 of 6 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. He added two rebounds and a steal in just 20 minutes of action. He was supported by balanced scoring, with Rob Martin adding 14 points, Terry Anderson contributing 12 points and five rebounds, and Braden Hausen chipping in 10 points and four assists.

UNC Asheville was led by Kameron Taylor, who finished with 21 points and six rebounds. Justin Wright added 18 points and three assists, and DJ Patrick scored 11 points. The Bulldogs struggled from deep, making only 4 of 16 3-point attempts, and were outscored 30-12 from the 3-point line overall.

A key factor was High Point’s ability to maximize its possessions. The Panthers scored 87 points on just 66 trips, posting an elite offensive rating of 131.1. They committed 11 turnovers but forced only five from the Bulldogs, though they managed to outscore UNC Asheville 11-10 in points off those miscues. The Panthers also dominated inside, scoring 38 points in the paint despite being out-rebounded on the offensive glass 8-4.

The Bulldogs managed to hang close early, trailing just 16-15 midway through the first half after a Julian Clarke 3-pointer. However, High Point’s shooting proved too much. The Panthers’ 61.7% clip from the field was a season-high against Division I competition for UNC Asheville’s defense.

With the victory, High Point covered the pregame spread as a 10.5-point favorite. The total of 156 points fell under the over/under line of 154.5. The Panthers’ win probability was listed at 75.2% by Interstat’s ELO system entering the contest.

High Point will look to continue its strong start to conference play when it hosts Longwood on Saturday. UNC Asheville hits the road for its next game, traveling to face Charleston Southern on Saturday.