ORANGEBURG, SC—All-MEAC guard/forward Jason Flagler tossed in a season-high 20 points, while junior guard Darnell Porter chipped in 15 and grabbed seven rebounds as South Carolina State defeated High Point University 76-63 in a non-conference matchup Wednesday at S-H-M.

The Bulldogs improved to 5-1 for the first time since the 2004-05 seasons under then second-year head coach Ben Betts.

South Carolina State controlled majority of the first-half jumping out to a 10 point lead, 24-14 off a 3-pointer by freshman guard Khalif Toombs at the 9:50 mark. Senior forward Arsenio Williams's added pair of free-throws to extend the lead with 8:47 left in the half.

A 3-pointer by David Campell fused a 10-2 run by High Point to cut the lead to two, 26-24 at the 6:23 mark. SC State's Jason Flagler nailed a jumper with 1:19 left to extend the lead to four, 30-26. Senior guard Eugene Harris cut the lead to one, 30-29 offs a clutch 3-pointer with 0:54 seconds left.

South Carolina State led at half-time 30-29.

The second-half was all SC State jumping out to an eight point advantage, 51-43 off a layup by Darnell Porter with 7:53 left in the game. A monster dunk by junior forward Rio Pitt extended the lead to 11, 69-58 with 2:38 left in the game.

A jumper by Porter sealed victory with 1:09 left and put SC State ahead 13, 72-59. Free-throws seemed to be the deciding factor down the stretch connecting on 22-27 from the line. Junior Darnell Porter led everyone on the night hitting 9 of 12 from the free-throw line,

Toombs also chipped in 10 points in the Bulldogs victory.

Next up for the Bulldogs South Carolina State will travel to the sunshine state to face ACC-foe University of Miami, Saturday in a 7:30 p.m. non-conference battle.

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