ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- High Point watched an 11-point lead dwindle down to two and scored just six points in the final 2:38 but still had enough oomph to hang on and defeat UNC Asheville 75-71 despite a season-high 39 points from Andre Rowsey Thursday night.

High Point (22-7, 13-4 Big South) got 19 points from John Brown and 11 from Brian Richardson as it tightened its hold on first place in the conference. The Panthers are just ahead of Charleston Southern and Coastal Carolina, which both lost on Thursday.

Rowsey hit 13 of 27 shots for UNC Asheville and tied the school record with 8 3-pointers (8-of-15). He was 5 of 5 at the foul line and has now made 30 straight.

High Point outrebounded the Bulldogs 46-27 and won in Asheville for the first time since 2007. Brown and Devante Wallace had 10 rebounds each.