High Point dominates the glass in an 84-71 victory over Southern Conference contender ETSU, completing an unbeaten exhibition slate ahead of its season opener against Liberty.
Eight days after dispatching CAA preseason favorite UNC Wilmington by 21 points, High Point traveled to Johnson City on Sunday afternoon and defeated East Tennessee State 84-71. The victory completed an unbeaten exhibition slate against two programs expected to compete for their respective conference championships.
The Panthers led for all but 15 seconds, building an advantage that reached 15 points late in the second half. Unlike the exhibition victory over UNCW, however, High Point’s path to victory wasn’t paved by forcing turnovers. Instead, the Panthers overwhelmed ETSU on the glass, creating additional scoring opportunities that repeatedly thwarted the Buccaneers’ comeback attempts.
Curtis Williams Jr., who missed the UNCW exhibition with an injury, led High Point with 18 points, connecting on five of his nine attempts from beyond the arc. Cam’Ron Fletcher added 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Isaac Garrett contributed a double-double of his own with 12 points and 10 boards.
Braden Hausen finished with 12 points on four made 3-pointers, and CJ Brown added 10 points, seven assists, and five rebounds.
A Different Formula for Success
High Point’s two exhibition victories came against opponents of similar caliber, but the Panthers accomplished them in markedly different ways.
Against UNCW, High Point forced 18 turnovers while committing just seven, continuing the defensive disruption and ball security that helped define Clayman’s first season. The Panthers finished second nationally in turnover margin in 2025-26, and the exhibition opener suggested that strength would carry into the new campaign.
Sunday’s performance told a different story.
High Point committed 16 turnovers against ETSU while forcing just nine, an uncharacteristic reversal for a program that finished last season with a turnover rate of approximately 13.1%, fifth-best nationally.
The Panthers turned the ball over on 24.2% of their estimated 66 possessions against the Buccaneers, a figure that will undoubtedly command attention from Clayman and his staff ahead of the regular-season opener.
The contrast between the two exhibitions was striking. High Point went from an 11-turnover advantage against UNCW to a seven-turnover disadvantage against ETSU, an 18-turnover swing between the two games.
Yet the Panthers won both contests by double digits.
Against ETSU, the explanation was found on the glass.
High Point outrebounded ETSU 46-25, collecting 18 offensive rebounds and generating 23 second-chance points. The Buccaneers managed just nine second-chance points of their own.
The Panthers recovered approximately 58.1% of their available offensive rebounds, nearly six out of every ten opportunities.
Fletcher and Garrett were particularly effective, combining for 27 points, 20 rebounds, and seven offensive boards.
For a team entering the season with questions about its traditional frontcourt size, the performance was an encouraging demonstration of how athleticism, positioning, and activity can compensate for a lack of conventional height.
More importantly, it demonstrated that High Point doesn’t necessarily need to win the turnover battle to control a game.
Williams Makes His Presence Felt
ETSU wasted little time testing High Point’s composure after halftime.
The Buccaneers opened the second period with five unanswered points, trimming an eight-point halftime deficit to just three.
Williams responded by taking over.
The returning wing connected on three 3-pointers in the opening four minutes of the second half, scoring all nine of High Point’s first nine points after the break.
Two of those baskets came on second-chance possessions, illustrating the relationship between the Panthers’ perimeter shooting and their dominance on the offensive glass.
Williams finished the afternoon shooting 5-for-9 from beyond the arc, providing an immediate reminder of the scoring versatility he brings to Clayman’s offense.
His return was particularly encouraging after High Point defeated UNCW without Williams, Jason Rivera-Torres, or Liam Campbell.
The Panthers connected on 12 of their 30 attempts from deep against ETSU, a 40% conversion rate that followed an 11-for-28 performance against UNCW.
Through two exhibitions, High Point made 23 of 58 attempts from beyond the arc, shooting 39.7%.
The volume is equally notable.
Three-pointers accounted for 52.6% of High Point’s field goal attempts against ETSU, compared with approximately 43.6% during the 2025-26 season.
Whether that increased perimeter emphasis becomes a defining feature of this year’s offense remains to be seen, but the early results suggest Clayman has no shortage of players willing to let it fly.
A Test Against a Southern Conference Contender
The significance of Sunday’s victory extends beyond the final score.
ETSU enters the 2026-27 season projected among the Southern Conference’s strongest teams under head coach Brooks Savage.
KenPom ranks the Buccaneers 169th nationally, while Bart Torvik places them 175th. EvanMiya and Haslametrics offer similar assessments, ranking ETSU 172nd and 153rd, respectively.
The Buccaneers are generally projected to finish second in the Southern Conference behind Furman.
For context, the Southern Conference ranks 21st nationally in KenPom’s preseason conference-strength projections, three spots ahead of the Big South.
ETSU represents the caliber of opponent High Point must consistently defeat to strengthen its nonconference résumé. Based on preseason projections, the Buccaneers would also likely rank among the Big South’s strongest teams, providing another useful measuring stick for the Panthers.
High Point’s offense was on full display despite the turnovers.
The Panthers produced 84 points on approximately 66 possessions, an offensive efficiency of 127.3 points per 100 possessions.
That figure is particularly encouraging against an ETSU defense projected to rank comfortably inside the national top 200.
High Point’s effective field goal percentage reached 59.6%, aided by 40% shooting from three and efficient interior finishing.
The combination of perimeter shooting, offensive rebounding, and free-throw production allowed the Panthers to generate an excellent offensive performance despite their turnover difficulties.
Brown and Martinez Offer Different Looks
Marquee offseason acquisition CJ Brown followed his 14-point, six-assist performance against UNCW with 10 points and seven assists against ETSU.
The former South Florida guard demonstrated his ability to create opportunities for teammates, particularly during the second half when he assisted several critical baskets as High Point extended its advantage.
His five turnovers, however, were a reminder that the Panthers are still adjusting to a new lead guard.
Brown committed his third personal foul less than two minutes into the second half, prompting Clayman to turn to returning guard Conrad Martinez.
Martinez responded by assisting consecutive Williams 3-pointers before knocking down a transition triple of his own.
The sophomore finished with three points, three assists, and one turnover in 16 minutes.
While Brown provides a more aggressive downhill presence and the ability to generate offense through penetration, Martinez offers another capable organizer who can facilitate without requiring significant scoring volume.
Their contrasting skill sets give Clayman flexibility in how he constructs his backcourt.
That versatility could become increasingly valuable as the Panthers settle into their regular-season rotation.
Finding Ways to Win
Perhaps the most encouraging development across High Point’s two exhibitions is that the Panthers have demonstrated different methods of controlling games.
Against UNCW, defensive pressure created additional possessions and fueled an efficient offensive performance.
Against ETSU, High Point struggled to protect the basketball but compensated by dominating the offensive glass.
The Panthers also displayed improved free-throw shooting Sunday, converting 16 of 21 attempts after shooting just 15-for-34 against UNCW.
There are certainly areas requiring attention.
High Point’s 16 turnovers against ETSU were well above the standard established last season, and the Buccaneers connected on 12 3-pointers while shooting 33.3% from beyond the arc.
But the broader picture remains encouraging.
Across two exhibitions against teams projected to contend in the CAA and Southern Conference, High Point averaged 88 points while winning by an average margin of 17 points.
The Panthers shot a combined 23-for-58 from three, received meaningful contributions from their returning core and offseason additions, and demonstrated that their offensive production isn’t dependent on any single player.
Most importantly, High Point showed that its identity doesn’t have to remain static.
The Panthers can win by creating turnovers. They can win by controlling the glass. And they have enough perimeter shooting to punish opponents who struggle to defend the arc.
The next challenge will be translating those strengths into meaningful games.
High Point opens the regular season against Liberty on November 2 in the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon, a matchup that should provide an immediate indication of where the Panthers stand against another program with NCAA Tournament aspirations.
After two impressive exhibition victories, the expectations surrounding Clayman’s second season certainly haven’t diminished.
If anything, they’ve grown.