Early drought dooms Tribe in home defeat

WILLIAMSBURG — The alarm didn’t sound for William & Mary’s offense until it was far too late Saturday at Kaplan Arena, as the Tribe didn’t score for almost the first eight minutes of a 71-49 loss to High Point.

W&M (2-2), which got off to a sizzling start Wednesday in its victory at Hampton, endured the polar opposite three days later before an arena rendered all but empty because of COVID-19 concerns. It was a 0-0 game for more than 2½ minutes, but High Point (2-4) led 14-0 before Thatcher Stone’s layup with 12:11 to go ended the W&M drought.

Lydell Elmore and John-Michael Wright each scored 14 points for the Panthers, who led by at least 15 throughout the second half. They’re guided by alum Tubby Smith, whose college head-coaching career included six previous schools and who led Kentucky to the 1998 NCAA championship.

Bryson Childress chipped in 12 points with four 3-pointers, and Ahmil Flowers had 10 points and seven rebounds for High Point.

Luke Loewe had 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting for the

Tribe, while Yuri Covington added 10 points. Quinn Blair had 10 rebounds. W&M hit just 29.1% (16 of 55) from the field, including 5 of 27 (18.5%) from 3-point range.

The Tribe will return to action at 2 p.m. Tuesday at No. 17 Virginia.

HIGH POINT 71, WILLIAM & MARY 49

HIGH POINT (2-4): Elmore 7-13 0-114, Izunabor 1-22-24, Flowers 5-90-010, Randleman 1-60-0 2, Wright 6-101-114, Childress 4-60-012, Sanchez 1-42-24, House 1-32-35, Coleman 1-20-0 3, Billups 0-00-00, Holt 1-11-2 3, Hughes 0-00-00. Totals 28-56 8-1171.

Blair 2-9 0-14, Harvey 0-12-22, Covington 4-80-210, Loewe 5-72-213, Scott 0-70-00, Wight 1-32-24, Kochera 2-82-27, Milkereit 0-5 2-42, Stone 1-32-24, Ayesa 1-4 0-03, Hermanovskis 0-00-00, Washburn 0-00-00. Totals 16-55 12-1749.

Half—High Point 31-15. 3-point goals—High Point 7-18(Childress 4-5, Coleman 1-1, House 1-2, Wright 1-4, Elmore 0-1, Sanchez 0-1, Flowers 0-2, Randleman

0-2), W&M 5-27(Covington 2-4, Loewe 1-2, Ayesa 1-4, Kochera 1-5, Stone 0-1, Wight 0-1, Blair 0-2, Milkereit 0-3, Scott 0-5). Rebounds—High Point 42 (Elmore, Flowers, Sanchez 7), W&M 29(Blair 10). Assists—

High Point 17(Wright 4), W&M 6 (Loewe 3). Fouls—High Point 20, W&M 12.