HIGH POINT, N.C. – Despite a game-high 25 points and 15 rebounds from senior Jon Hogga, Gwynedd-Mercy kept things close in an 86-77 loss to Division I High Point University Friday night.

Sophomore Frank Champion added 13 points and seven boards, as the Griffins (1-1) rallied from a double-digit second-half hole, only to trail by as little as five points with 1:22 to play.

Nick Barbour was one of six players in double digits for the Panthers, out of the Big South Conference, netting 19 points including his 1,000th career point.

The Griffins held strong in the first half, going neck-and-neck with High Point, as each team shot over 44% from the floor, yet it was High Point who led 46-37 at the break.

Gwynedd stayed within range in the second stanza. After falling behind by as much as 13 with 9:18 to play, a three-point play from junior Dan Delconte put the team down just four points (76-72) with 3:48 left, but it would be as close as the Griffins could manage.

Barbour would later hit a big three-pointer to restore a nine-point edge GM could not recover from.

Delconte ended up with 12 points and a game-high six assists while senior Jon Crabtree added 13. Hogga was 8-of-18 shooting as all but two of his 15 boards were on the defensive side.

Gwynedd hit for seven three pointers (7-17) while going 20-24 (83%) from the free-throw line.

Tehran Cox and Earnest Bridges added 15 apiece for High Point (2-1).

The Griffins return home and will face off with Arcadia on Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. at the Griffin Complex.