High Point got 19 points and 6 rebounds from John Brown and beat the host Hawaii Rainbow Warriors 62-54 early Tuesday morning, mainland time.
The Panthers also received steady contributions from Tarique Thompson (13 points) and Adam Weary (10 points) in the victory. They now move to 3-0 on the young season, the first time ever for the school in Division I.
Neither team was able to get going offensively as High Point managed just 38% shooting while Hawaii barely made over 31% of its shots. The two squads combined to go 5-33 from behind the three-point line.
The Panthers found themselves down by nine points in the second half but finished the game on a 20-3 run. Weary completed a three-point play late in the game to give High Point a lead it would never let go.
Mike Thomas scored 14 for the Warriors and Isaac Fleming added 11 of his own.
The contest was the championship game of the Rainbow Classic, held every year in Honolulu.