HIGH POINT, N.C. -- John Brown scored 26 points on 11-of-16 shooting and High Point held off UNC Asheville 73-69 on Wednesday night to claim first place in the Big South Conference.

Brown had four blocks and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Panthers (13-6, 6-2), who outrebounded the Bulldogs 45-23.

Up by three at halftime, High Point pulled ahead 42-37 on Andre Fox's jumper, but the Bulldogs' Will Weeks tied it at 52 with a free throw with 7:59 left.

Fox's 3 capped an 8-2 run for a 69-62 High Point lead with 2:10 to play and Haiishen McIntyre's layup with 53 seconds left gave the Panthers a 71-67 edge.

Dylan Smith hit two free throws to pull the Bulldogs within 71-69 with 34 seconds left, but Brown and Austin White each made a free throw to seal the game.

Smith led UNC Asheville (13-7, 6-2) with 19 and Kevin Vannatta added 16.