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HPU Drops Final Non-Conference Contest to #18 Kentucky; Coach Tubby Smith has Banner Retired in Rupp Arena - HPU Panthers

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Site: Lexington, Kentucky (Rupp Arena)

Score: High Point 48, #18 Kentucky 92

Records: High Point (6-8), #18 Kentucky (11-2)

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY.— High Point University men's basketball dropped its final non-conference contest of the year against Kentucky 92-48 on New Year's Eve. John-Michael Wright and Zack Austin led the Panthers in scoring as they each scored 12 points on the night.

Prior to the game, The University of Kentucky honored its 1998 national championship coach Tubby Smith. When it was time for the ceremony, Coach Smith made his way out of the visitor's tunnel at Rupp Arena for the first time in his career. As soon as the Wildcat faithful got as much as a glimpse of Coach Smith 19,735 fans rushed to their feet greeting the national championship coach with a chill-inducing reaction. 

Coach Smith became just the fourth coach to have his name displayed on a banner in the rafters of Rupp Arena joining Adolph Rupp, Joe B. Hall, and Rick Pitino.

Coach Tubby Smith on having his banner retired in Rupp Arena: "You know, I tell our players, you know, it's what you do from the day you're born to the day you die. My parents taught me, my dad, you never really want to see that gold watch or that retirement award unless you last. Your longevity has its part. And do things and being a servant of every program I've ever coached. So, we feel--you know, and when do you your job and to the best of your ability, people respect that. I think Kentucky, obviously, the folks here and the fans here, we are not just on the basketball court, but serving this community, the state, giving back as much as we could through our foundation, and I think that's a testament to the values that we try to instill in our players and in our family. 

And when you're successful, and when you're serving people, when we're telling the players, if you play for each other--Jeff Sheppard made that comment today. He spoke to the team briefly, he and Cameron Mills, and we had a great time with the guys last night at the reception with the former players, and each one talked about that season on just playing for me and how we treated them and that we respected them, and I think these what it's about. Respecting each other and respecting the tradition that Kentucky has for their basketball program. It's the No. 1 basketball program in the history of college basketball, so that's why it's such a thrill, an honor to be a part of the legacy of Kentucky by having your banner raised in Rupp Arena."

Quotables

"We all want this man to know you are beloved here" – John Calipari 

Tubby Smith's long-time bus driver while he coached at Kentucky, Stan M: "When they love you here in Lexington like they love Tubby, that kind of love never goes away. It was great to have him back again today, I'm already sad to see him go."

Kentucky Point Guard Ty Ty Washington Jr. wore a Tubby Smith t-shirt to the press conference, when asked why he said: It was in our lockers after the game. I just wanted to throw it on because Tubby's a legend, as well as a Cal. You always have to pay your respect when respect is due. Everyone here and in the state respects Tubby. Everybody's appreciative of what he did for the program back then. We're just trying to keep it going, and that's why I'm wearing this shirt. Loud and proud." 

Coach Smith on Donna Smith 'doing the Y': She's done the Y before. And I'm sure--she loves Kentucky like I do, and for her to have that opportunity it's just--to witness her, I'm looking at it now, that's a special moment for her because she's been part of this journey now for 40, what, 46 years, 47 years.

Head Coach Tubby Smith: First, it was a great reception and we're really honored and pleased by the reception and having the banner raised in Rupp Arena. Couldn't be happier. Certainly, I was happy to have my family here with me to witness this moment in time, and to have our High Point team, fans, staff, it was a great experience for them, I hope. I know we didn't give them much of a game in the second half, but that's what can happen to you if you don't stick with the game plan.

Panther Particulars 

After a UK three-pointer started the scoring for the day JMW answered with a three of his own to tie the game at three in the very early going. 

Austin got the Wildcats to go for a pump fake with 15:55 left in the first and was able to sink a deep two to make the score 9-7, bringing UK's lead down to only two. 

With 12:46 left in the first, Jaden House nailed a three to tie the game at 14.

Following his red-hot day in East Lansing, Bryson Childress got one of his early threes to fall to make it 20-17 bringing his Panthers within three with 10:27 left to go in the first.

UK used a 23-8 run in the final ten minutes of the first half to take a 43-25 lead into the break. 

Emmanuel Izunabor scored the first four points of the second half as the junior battled in the paint all game long. Izunabor finished with six points.

After being held to five points in the first half, Wright scored seven points in the second half. 

HPU was able to hold the National Player of the Week Oscar Tshiebwe to only eight rebounds just a few nights removed from his 28-rebound game against Western Kentucky. It was only the second time Tshiebwe recorded single-digit rebounds this season. The other game was Notre Dame's upset win over the Wildcats earlier in December. 

UP NEXT

The Panthers return to the Qubein Center for the first Big South contest of the year as HPU welcomes Winthrop on Wednesday, January 5th. 

Congratulations Coach. 

#OurCityOurUniversity x #GoHPU

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HPU Drops Final Non-Conference Contest to #18 Kentucky; Coach Tubby Smith has Banner Retired in Rupp Arena - HPU Panthers
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