HIGH POINT, N.C. (Interstat) — In a game defined by its physicality and a decisive disparity at the free-throw line, the High Point Panthers pulled away in the final minutes to secure an 86-77 victory over the Radford Highlanders in a Big South Conference men’s basketball game Saturday night at Qubein Arena.

A crowd of 7,202 watched as the Panthers, now 22-4 overall, used a 47-point second half to break open what had been a tight contest, improving to 2-0 against Radford this season. The Highlanders fell to 13-13.

The game’s pivotal stretch came late in the second half with the outcome still in doubt. Leading 70-66 with just over five minutes to play, High Point engineered a 9-2 run that effectively sealed the result. The surge was fueled by the interior presence of Owen Aquino, who converted a layup, and the relentless driving of Terry Anderson, who capped the run with a layup off a Conrad Martinez assist to give the Panthers a 79-68 advantage with 4:06 remaining. Radford could not cut the deficit below seven points the rest of the way.

The most important factor in the Panthers’ win was their overwhelming advantage in free-throw attempts and efficiency. High Point attempted 37 free throws, making 31, while Radford went 18 for 28 from the line. This 19-point margin at the charity stripe proved insurmountable for the Highlanders, who otherwise kept pace in several statistical categories. Both teams made 25 field goals, with Radford holding a slight edge in three-pointers, 9-5. The Panthers compensated by forcing 19 Radford turnovers, converting them into 24 points.

Terry Anderson led all scorers with 24 points for High Point, adding four assists. His performance was part of a balanced Panther attack that saw four players reach double figures. Owen Aquino, a 6-foot-8 forward from Madrid, Spain, provided 17 points and a key defensive presence. Scotty Washington scored 15 points, and Vincent Brady chipped in 13 off the bench.

Radford was led by Dennis Parker, a 6-foot-6 guard from Richmond, Virginia, who matched Anderson’s 24 points. Jaylon Johnson of Houston added 17 points for the Highlanders, who shot just 27% from three-point range on 33 attempts.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair featuring 10 lead changes and five ties. Radford’s Parker was electric early, scoring 11 of his team’s first 16 points. High Point responded with a 9-0 run midway through the period, sparked by five points from Washington, to take a 23-16 lead. The Highlanders clawed back, and the teams entered halftime separated by just two points, with High Point ahead 39-37.

The Panthers began to create separation early in the second half, opening with an 8-2 spurt to build a 47-39 lead. Radford answered with a 9-3 run of its own, capped by a Brennan Rigsby three-pointer, to close within 50-48. The game remained a one-possession contest for much of the next eight minutes until High Point’s late-game execution and free-throw shooting finally created the decisive cushion.

With the win, High Point maintains its position atop the Big South Conference standings. Radford, which has lost three of its last four, will look to regroup before hosting Charleston Southern next Saturday. High Point travels to face South Carolina Upstate on Thursday.