Category: College

By Bret Strelow for App State Sports. FAIRFAX, Va. — App State freshman Carson Floyd captured his second individual title in the opening month of the season as the Mountaineers had six wrestlers place at the Patriot Open hosted by George Mason.

Floyd, who won the Mountaineer Invitational last month in his second collegiate event, went 4-0 in the 197-pound bracket Sunday to improve to 12-3 this seasom. He began the tournament with a fall in 36 seconds, followed that with a 6-0 decision in the quarterfinals and reached the final with a pin in 2:30 against Davidson’s Gavin Henry, who has finished as high as third at the SoCon Championships during his career.

In the final, Floyd held a 2-0 lead thanks to an early takedown before an injury to George Mason’s Jonathan List ended the match with one period completed.

Floyd, Luke Uliano (184 pounds) and Jacob Sartorio (heavyweight) were all finalists, as Uliano won his first four matches and Sartorio claimed his first three before they suffered finals losses.

Ethan Oakley had a 3-1 record en route to a third-place finish at 133 pounds, and Triston Norris went 2-1 to place third in the heavyweight bracket. OJ Bost also placed by finishing sixth at 165 pounds.

By Bret Strelow for App State Sports. LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Jon Jon Millner’s fourth-place finish at 149 pounds led App State Wrestling at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational.

Taking a 13-0 season record into Saturday’s semifinal round, Millner lost a 4-1 decision against fourth-ranked Kyle Parco (Arizona State) in the semifinal round before winning a 4-0 decision No. 24 Alec Hagan of Ohio. He lost a 2-1 decision against seventh-ranked Yahya Thomas of Northwestern in the third-place match.

All seven App State Wrestling entries had a hand raised Friday, and three Mountaineers advanced to the final day of competition at the high-profile tournament.

Joining Millner in advancing to Day 2 thanks to 3-1 showings Friday, Will Formato finished seventh at 165 pounds, and Tommy Askey placed eighth at 157 pounds.

Parco used an early takedown to lead 2-0 in the 149 semifinal, and Millner trailed 2-1 late in the first period when he executed a potential takedown near the edge of the mat. After a lengthy review, no takedown was awarded, and Parco took control by riding out the second period. Millner then recorded a first-period takedown in his shutout of Hagan.

Formato lost 12-3 to 16th-ranked Matthew Olguin from Oregon State in a consolation semifinal to drop into the seventh-place match against sixth-ranked Carson Kharchla from Ohio State, who didn’t compete due to a medical forfeit.

Askey lost 9-2 to 24th-ranked Trevor Chumbley from Northwestern in a consolation semifinal before Columbia’s Cesar Alvan won the seventh-place match by fall.

Millner’s unbeaten Friday included a 7-1 decision against Nebraska’s Dayne Morton, a 10-3 decision against Columbia’s Danny Fongaro and a 6-0 shutout of NC State’s Jackson Arrington, who has climbed to No. 18 in the national rankings since losing to Millner by the same score in his dual debut for the Wolfpack on Nov. 4.

In their rematch a month later, Millner needed only two seconds to get in on a shot that turned into a quick takedown. By the end of the first period, he had a 2-0 lead and 2:38 in riding time.

Askey earned a quarterfinal berth with a pair of close victories, as he won a 3-2 decision against Long Island’s Rhise Royster and quickly secured an overtime takedown of Cal Poly’s Luka Wick to secure a 3-1 (SV1) decision. After hanging tough in an 8-2 loss to second-ranked Will Lewan from Michigan, Askey won 3-1 against 19th-ranked Derek Holschlag, a returning NCAA qualifier from Northern Iowa, with help from a takedown in the final seconds of the second period.

Formato opened the tournament with convincing wins against Edinboro’s Alex Garee (6-0) and 29th-ranked Legend Lamer from Cal Poly (6-1) before dropping a 6-2 decision to 10th-ranked Julian Ramirez of Cornell. One sequence in the final minute of the second period turned a scoreless matchup into a six-point lead for Ramirez, but Formato bounced back by claiming a 5-2 win against NC State’s Donald Cates.

Formato, who edged Cates in overtime during the Nov. 4 dual, gained separation Friday on a takedown with 24 seconds left. He rode out the second period and finished with 2:19 in riding time.

Caleb Smith (125) joined Millner, Askey and Formato as a quarterfinalist before finishing 2-2, and Sean Carter (133) posted a 3-2 record in Las Vegas with a pair of one-point losses to top-25 opponents.

Mason Fiscella went 2-2 with losses to two top-10 opponents in the heavyweight division, and Will Miller (174) earned a 10-5 victory against Cal Poly’s Jarad Priest following an opening-round loss in which he delivered an early takedown against third-ranked Mikey Labriola from Nebraska.

Fiscella advanced to the Round of 16 thanks to an overtime takedown in a 3-1 (SV1) win against Max Millin of Edinboro. Fiscella also won 5-3 against Utah Valley’s Chase Trussell between losses to No. 6 ¬Lucas Davison from Northwestern and No. 7 Tate Orndorff from Ohio State (7-1 decision).

Smith followed a 7-4 win to open the event with a 12-2 major decision against 27th-ranked Liam Cronin from Nebraska, but he suffered an 8-6 (SV1) loss to South Dakota State’s Tanner Jordan in the quarterfinal round. Facing a 5-2 deficit in the final 20 seconds of the third period, Smith executed a reversal with 17 seconds left and then got a takedown of Jordan after cutting him loose to force overtime at 6-all, but Jordan prevailed in the first OT period. Smith then dropped a 14-9 decision to 10th-ranked Malik Heinselman from Ohio State.

Carter won 10-4 against Purdue’s Dustin Morris before dropping a 3-2 (TBA) decision to 18th-ranked Cody Phippen from Air Force. Each wrestler got an escape in the 30-second Tiebreaker 1 periods, but Phippen came up with his quickly enough to maintain an all-important riding time advantage that serves as a tiebreaker, and he received a point on a stalling penalty against Carter.

Carter then won 7-3 against Ohio State’s Dylan Koontz and 3-2 against Cal Baptist’s Hunter Leake, but a 3-2 loss to 23rd-ranked Chance Rich from Cal State Bakersfield wrapped up his tournament.

By Katherine Jamtgaard for App State Sports. BOONE, N.C. – The App State women’s track and field team opened the 2022-23 indoor season on Friday and Saturday by hosting the John Weaver Invitational. Graduate student Hunter Robinson, seniors Jada Branch and Taylor Smith, sophomore Graysen Arnold, freshmen Ava Studney and Addison Ollendick-Smith posted first-place finishes as the Mountaineers placed first in the team standings with 145 points.

Smith clinched a pair of first-place finishes and personal bests in the women’s 55 meters and women’s long jump. Smith clocked a time of 6.99 in the 55-meters preliminary before shaving off .09 in the final for a time of 6.90. She currently stands fourth in the App State all-time list for the event. Also in the 55-meter final, sophomore Mariah McCord placed second (7.11, PR) and Robinson took third (7.13). In the long jump, Smith landed first with a leap of 6.15m (20′ 2.25″).

Branch clinched first in the women’s triple jump with a leap of 12.52m (41′ 1″) and took fourth in the women’s long jump (5.58m (18′ 3.75″)). Studney led the Mountaineers in the women’s pole vault, landing first with a personal best clearance of 3.57m (11′ 8.5″).

In the women’s weight throw, Arnold garnered gold with a personal best toss of 17.00m (55’9″) while sophomore Daiyanna Cooper placed third with her own personal best of 16.61m (54′ 6″). Cooper also recorded a third-place finish in the women’s shot put with a personal best mark of 13.27m (43′ 6.5″).

On the track, Ollendick-Smith and senior Elizabeth Fuller took first (2:17.60, PR) and second (2:20.27), respectively, in the women’s 800 meters. Robinson, senior Mariah Atwater, and graduate student Jelonnie Smith went 1-2-3 in the women’s 300 meters, clocking times of 39.20 (PR), 39.43 (PR), and 40.19, respectively.

Up Next
The Mountaineers return to the track on Jan. 14 for the Mondo College Invite in Winston-Salem, N.C.

By Katherine Jamtgaard for App State Sports. SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The App State women’s basketball team (2-5) faced a tough Wofford (6-2) squad on Saturday, falling to the Terriers, 71-42, on the road.

Freshman Chaé Harris was the Mountaineers’ top scorer, netting 13 points on the afternoon. She also matched graduate student Lauren Carter and sophomore Mariah Frazier with a team-high five rebounds. Redshirt senior Janay Sanders scored the second-most points for App State with 11. Twenty of the Mountaineers’ points were scored off the bench.

After a dry first quarter for the Black and Gold, Harris sunk back-to-back threes to cut into Wofford’s lead in the second. Shortly after, Harris found her way to the hoop for a layup, tallying eight of her 13 points in the second quarter alone.

Wofford’s hot shooting and strong rebounding throughout the game propelled them to a 29-point lead at the close of the third period. Jackie Carman, Lilly Hatton, and Rachael Rose combined for 42 of the Terriers’ points on the afternoon.

UP NEXT
App State will host Johnson C. Smith on Dec. 10 at the Holmes Convocation Center. The game is set for a 2 p.m. tipoff and will be broadcasted on ESPN+. Saturday’s game will be the Mountaineers’ Community Appreciation Game, where fans can get half price tickets.

By Bret Strelow for App State Sports.BOONE, N.C. — App State Men’s Golf officially added Alex Martin and Jack Seward during the recent signing period.

Martin, a Thomasville, N.C., native who is in his second year at Sandhills Community College following his graduation from Uwharrie Ridge Six-Twelve, and Seward, a Florence, S.C., native who is a prep senior at Trinity Collegiate School, are set to join coach Alan Cress’ program in advance of the 2023-24 season.

Martin finished second place individually while helping lead Sandhills to the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III national team title earlier this year. He shot 73-76-72-73—294 at Chautauqua Golf Club in New York as Sandhills, which is located in Pinehurst, N.C., finished 89 strokes ahead of the event runner-up.

Martin also finished second overall in the NJCAA Region 10 Tournament. In high school, he was the conference player of the year as a standout at Uwharrie Ridge Six-Twelve, which is located in Trinity, N.C.

“They have a great golf program (at App State),” Martin said.

Relatively new to golf after taking up the sport in 2020, Seward was a captain for a Trinity Collegiate School team that won a South Carolina Independent School Association AAA state title in April.

Seward competed in the 2022 U.S. Junior Amateur in Oregon over the summer after qualifying by shooting a 69 to earn co-medalist honors at The Links at Stono Ferry in Charleston, S.C.

“App State felt like home as soon as I arrived on campus,” Seward said.

By Bobby Neal for App State Sports. CHARLOTTE, N.C. – App State men’s basketball dropped to 2-1 on the road in a 72-61 finish against Charlotte.

The Mountaineers opened the game with an incredible first half that included a 25-0 run and a 7-7 start from Christopher Mantis, who started for the first time and scored a career-high 25 points by going 10-15 from the floor with five three-pointers.

Mantis had four rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal in 35 minutes of play, the most he has ever recorded. His 25 points were the most by any App State player this season.
The Mountaineers were up 30-7 in the first eight minutes of play before the 49ers began climbing back, leading to a halftime score of 42-31. The lead went back and forth throughout the second half as Charlotte pulled away in the closing moments.

Donovan Gregory played aggressively, earning season-highs in rebounds (9) and assists (7).

Justin Abson, who also started for the first time, had his fifth game with at least three blocks, continuing his streak of at least one block in every game of his career. His total of 25 this season ranks fifth in the country, first in the Sun Belt and first among freshmen.

The Mountaineers will return to action this Tuesday at home when they host Carlow at 6:30 p.m.

By Joey Jones for App State Sports. BOONE, N.C. – App State announced the following football staff changes Friday:

Defensive line coach Robert Nunn and Director of Athletic Performance Brad Bielaniec are no longer with the program.

Nunn served as the team’s defensive line coach for the past three seasons. He was a position coach in the NFL for 19 years before returning to the college ranks in 2020.

Bielaniec was hired as the Director of Athletic Performance in 2020 after also serving as an assistant football strength and conditioning coach with the Mountaineers in 2018.

BOONE, N.C. — App State right tackle Cooper Hodges has been named a third-team All-American by PFF College.

A fifth-year redshirt junior from Glen St. Mary, Fla., Hodges ended the 2022 regular season with 51 straight starts and became a four-time All-Sun Belt selection when league honors are announced Thursday.

Hodges’ overall blocking grade of 85.3 from PFF this season ranks fifth overall among starting FBS offensive tackles and No. 1 among starting right tackles at the FBS level.

Hodges’ run-blocking grade of 86.2 is also fifth nationally among starting FBS offensive tackles and No. 1 among starting right tackles. A two-year captain, he allowed just one sack and two quarterback hits in 428 pass-blocking snaps.

The Mountaineers have produced at least one FBS All-American in each of the last four seasons.

BOONE, N.C. — Eleven members of App State’s football team have received All-Sun Belt recognition from the league, which announced its honors for the 2022 season on Thursday.

The All-Sun Belt first team includes linebacker Nick Hampton, offensive lineman Anderson Hardy and offensive lineman Cooper Hodges, who has earned All-Sun Belt recognition for the fourth straight year. He has repeated as a first-team pick from the league after being a second-team selection in 2019 and 2020.

Tight end Henry Pearson and defensive back Steven Jones Jr. have made the All-Sun Belt second team, while the All-Sun Belt third team includes offensive lineman Isaiah Helms and return specialist Milan Tucker.

Record-setting quarterback Chase Brice, linebacker Jalen McLeod, running back Nate Noel and receiver Kaedin Robinson have received All-Sun Belt honorable mention.

Competition for spots on the All-Sun Belt teams increased this season as the league expanded from 10 to 14 teams.

HERE’S A CLOSER LOOK AT APP STATE’S HONOREES:

FIRST TEAM
Nick Hampton, OLB, Fifth-year R-Jr.
Reese’s Senior Bowl invitee and two-time All-Sun Belt selection … Second among Sun Belt players with 0.78 sacks per game during the regular season … Among the league leaders with totals of 10.5 TFLs and 7.0 sacks in just nine regular-season games played due to injuries … Tied for the Sun Belt regular-season lead with three fumbles forced and tied for fifth among league players with two fumbles recovered … Tied for first place among FBS players with 0.33 fumbles forced per game during the regular season … Multi-sack games this year vs. UNC (2.5) and JMU (2.0), plus sacks vs. Coastal Carolina, Georgia State and Troy.

Anderson Hardy, LT, Fifth-year R-Jr.
Increased streak to 28 straight games started at left tackle and, according to PFF, had the third-best overall blocking grade and fourth-best run-blocking grade among starting offensive tackles in the Sun Belt … Allowed just two quarterback sacks protecting the blind side of QB Chase Brice … Totaled 849 snaps, including 432 pass-blocking snaps.

Cooper Hodges, RT, Fifth-year R-Jr.
Four-time All-Sun Belt selection and a third-team All-American from PFF College … Made 51 straight starts at right tackle and played 838 snaps in 2022 … Overall blocking grade of 85.3 from PFF this season ranks fifth overall among starting FBS offensive tackles and No. 1 among starting right tackles at the FBS level … Run-blocking grade of 86.2 is also fifth nationally among starting FBS offensive tackles and No. 1 among starting right tackles … Two-year captain allowed just one sack and two QB hits in (428 pass-block snaps) in 2022.

SECOND TEAM
Henry Pearson, TE, 5th-year Sr.
Led App State and tied for the Sun Belt lead among tight ends with five touchdown catches … Second among league TEs in catches (25) and receiving yards (329) … Among starting Sun Belt tight ends, had the second-best overall blocking grade, according to PFF … As a key member of both the running game and passing game, helped App State rank second in the Sun Belt and 23rd nationally in scoring … Played in 59 career games and made 43 starts at tight end.

Steven Jones Jr., CB, 6th-year R-Sr.
Cornerback tied for the Sun Belt lead in the regular season with 15 passes defended … Tied for 14th nationally in the regular season with 1.2 passes defended per game … Also totaled 45 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and one sack on the season … School-record six pass breakups in the win over ODU … Career-high nine tackles and his first career sack at Marshall … Helped App State rank top 40 nationally in rushing defense and total defense … Played in 63 career games and made 26 starts.

THIRD TEAM
Isaiah Helms, C/RG, Fourth-year Jr.
Versatile lineman started the first six games at right guard and the last six games at center … Among non-tackles, ranked fourth among starting Sun Belt centers/guards in total blocking grade from PFF after playing 797 total snaps … In first game switching from guard to center, helped App State rush for 469 yards in a 42-17 win against Georgia State … Allowed only one quarterback hit in six games as the starting center …. Among starting guards and centers in the Sun Belt, had the third-best run-blocking grade.

Milan Tucker, KR, 4th-year R-So.
First place in the Sun Belt and third nationally with a kick return average of 28.2 yards (with 620 yards on 22 returns) … Scored his first career touchdown with a 96-yard kickoff return at Marshall … Also had key returns of 47 yards vs. UNC and 63 yards in the win vs. Georgia State … Saw action as a reserve cornerback and on additional special teams units.

HONORABLE MENTION
Chase Brice, QB, 6th-year R-Sr.
Top 25 pick for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award … Threw 27 touchdown passes (No. 1 in the Sun Belt, T-No. 13 in FBS) against just six interceptions … Passed for 2,921 yards (243.4 per game) with an efficiency rating of 155.1 (No. 3 in the Sun Belt) … Of four Sun Belt QBs with at least 25 TD passes, one of only two with single-digit interceptions … Set school record with six touchdown passes while throwing for 361 passing yards in the 2022 opener against UNC (he completed 10 passes for 203 yards and four TDs during a 40-point fourth quarter) … After leading App State past Texas A&M a week later, memorably threw a 53-yard TD pass to Christan Horn on a last-play Hail Mary to beat Troy 32-28 on the same day ESPN’s College GameDay aired from Boone … Threw for career-high 395 yards and tied program record with 40 completions at Texas State … Threw four TDs apiece in two wins.

Jalen McLeod, OLB, 3rd-year So.
Posted 41 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 6.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and eight QB hurries while playing primarily in a non-starting role … His 0.55 sacks per game average ranked ninth in the Sun Belt … In College Station, had two forced fumbles (on the same play) and two sacks as App State’s defense limited Texas A&M to nine first downs, 186 yards (on just 38 plays) and 18:31 in possession … According to PFF, had 35 total QB pressures with 20 hurries and eight hits in addition to his sacks … Pass-rush grade of 90.2 ranked third among Sun Belt defenders who logged at least 200 snaps on passing plays … Tipped pass at Marshall led to interception.

Nate Noel, RB, 3rd-year So.
Rushed for team-high 604 yards and career-best six touchdowns on 87 carries for a season-long average of 6.9 yards per carry … Opened season with 116 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries against North Carolina and finished year with 171 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries against Georgia Southern … Despite missing three full games and being limited by injury in several others, rushed for at least 69 yards in five contests … After totaling 10 catches in his first two seasons, made 24 catches for 145 yards.

Kaedin Robinson, WR, 4th-year R-So.
Ranked third on the team in catches (27) and receiving yards (419) … Had six games with at least 48 receiving yards … Scored a touchdown against UNC with nine seconds left that brought the game within a two-point conversion of tying the opener … Made a key block to help Christan Horn reach the end zone on the game-winning Hail Mary against Troy … Posted three catches for 90 yards and a TD against ODU, thanks to a 57-yard catch on App State’s first offensive play and a 35-yard score … Made five catches for 57 yards vs. JMU … Had four catches for 68 yards vs. Troy.

2022 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL POSTSEASON AWARDS

All-Sun Belt First Team Offense
QB – Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina
RB – Khalan Laborn, Marshall
RB – La’Damian Webb, South Alabama
OL – Cooper Hodges, App State
OL – Austin Stidham, Troy
OL – Willie Lampkin, Coastal Carolina
OL – Jake Andrews, Troy
OL – Anderson Hardy, App State
TE – Seydou Traore, Arkansas State
WR – Jamari Thrash, Georgia State
WR – Kris Thornton, James Madison
WR – Ali Jennings III, Old Dominion

All-Sun Belt First Team Defense
DL – T.J. Jackson, Troy
DL – Zi’Yon Hill-Green, Louisiana
DL – Owen Porter, Marshall
DL – Will Choloh, Troy
DL – Isaac Ukwu, James Madison
LB – Carlton Martial, Troy
LB – Jason Henderson, Old Dominion
LB – Nick Hampton, App State
DB – Yam Banks, South Alabama
DB – Micah Abraham, Marshall
DB – Reddy Steward, Troy
DB – Bralen Trahan, Louisiana

All-Sun Belt First Team Special Teams
K – Dominic Zvada, Arkansas State
P – Rhys Burns, Louisiana
RS – Eric Garror, Louisiana
AP – Frank Gore Jr., Southern Miss

All-Sun Belt Second Team Offense
QB – Todd Centeio, James Madison
RB – Kimani Vidal, Troy
RB – Frank Gore Jr., Southern Miss
OL – Khalil Crowder, Georgia Southern
OL – Pat Bartlett, Georgia State
OL – Nick Saldiveri, Old Dominion
OL – Malik Sumter, Georgia State
OL – Nick Kidwell, James Madison
TE – Henry Pearson, App State
WR – Jalen Wayne, South Alabama
WR – Tyrone Howell, ULM
WR – Khaleb Hood, Georgia Southern

All-Sun Belt Second Team Defense
DL – Levi Bell, Texas State
DL – James Carpenter, James Madison
DL – Richard Jibunor, Troy
DL – Jamare Edwards, James Madison
DL – Josaiah Stewart, Coastal Carolina
LB – Marques Watson-Trent, Georgia Southern
LB – Andre Jones, Louisiana
LB – Jourdan Quibodeaux, Louisiana
DB – Steven Jones Jr., App State
DB – Quavian White, Georgia State
DB – Steven Gilmore, Marshall
DB – Lance Boykin, Coastal Carolina

All-Sun Belt Second Team Special Teams
K – Diego Guajardo, South Alabama
P – Devyn McCormick, ULM
RS – Johnnie Lang Jr., Arkansas State
AP – Johnnie Lang Jr., Arkansas State

All-Sun Belt Third Team Offense
QB – Kyle Vantrease, Georgia Southern
RB – Percy Agyei-Obese, James Madison
RB – Jalen White, Georgia Southern
OL – James Jackson, South Alabama
OL – Kyle Hergel, Texas State
OL – Caleb Kelly, Georgia Southern
OL – Isaiah Helms, App State
OL – Antwine Loper, Coastal Carolina
TE – Jacob Jenkins, Coastal Carolina
WR – Jason Brownlee, Southern Miss
WR – Sam Pinckney, Coastal Carolina
WR – Michael Jefferson, Louisiana

All-Sun Belt Third Team Defense
DL – Kivon Bennett, Arkansas State
DL – Jerrod Clark, Coastal Carolina
DL – Justin Ellis, Georgia Southern
DL – Javon Solomon, Troy
LB – Taurus Jones, James Madison
LB – JT Killen, Coastal Carolina
LB – Santrell Latham, Southern Miss
DB – Jay Stanley, Southern Miss
DB – Malik Shorts, Southern Miss
DB – Darrell Luter Jr., South Alabama
DB – Antavious Lane, Georgia State
DB – Derrick Canteen, Georgia Southern

All-Sun Belt Third Team Special Teams
K – Briggs Bourgeois, Southern Miss
P – Mason Hunt, Southern Miss
RS – Milan Tucker, App State
AP – La’Damian Webb, South Alabama

All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention (from App State)
QB — Chase Brice
LB — Jalen McLeod
RB — Nate Noel
WR — Kaedin Robinson

Coach of the Year
Jon Sumrall, Troy

Player of the Year
Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina

Offensive Player of the Year
Todd Centeio, James Madison

Defensive Player of the Year
Carlton Martial, Troy

Newcomer of the Year
Todd Centeio, James Madison

Freshman of the Year
Jared Brown, Coastal Carolina

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — A 17-0 run to close a 16-point deficit and take a 5-point lead with six minutes remaining wasn’t enough for Appalachian State against former Southern Conference rival Furman on Nov. 29. Crediting some combination of stellar Paladin defense and Mountaineer woes on offense, App State only managed one field goal in the last six minutes before losing, 65-61, in front of 1,956 college basketball fans in the Holmes Convocation Center.

Just 11 seconds into the second half, the visiting Paladins took their biggest lead of the night, 16 points, 35-19. After the Mountaineers whittled down that deficit and took the lead for the first time with 7:10 remaining in the contest, 54-52, AppNation had hope for another come-from-behind victory.

But it didn’t happen. The Mountaineers couldn’t take advantage of multiple opportunities created by Furman turnovers and missed foul shots in the closing minute.

After the Mountaineers took the lead for the first time, they seemed to gain not only the upper hand but also offensive momentum while the Paladins appeared rattled, fouling repeatedly, giving the likes of Dibaji Walker and C J Huntley opportunities at the charity stripe. They expanded the App State lead to five points, 57-52.

But that Mountaineer momentum was short-circuited. Paladin guard Mike Bothwell, who poured in a game-high 23 points on the night, took charge as the visitors gathered themselves. Furman tied the game at 57-57, and expanded their advantage to 63-57 on free throws and a 3-pointer by Bothwell, along with an opportunistic play under the basket by forward Garrett Hien coming off the bench, with 2:03 left in the ball game.

App State’s versatile playmaker Donovan Gregory closed the gap to 63-61 with a driving layup and free throws after he was fouled on the play, but the Mountaineers otherwise took little advantage of Furman’s missed shots down the stretch. Forced to foul in the closing seconds and hope to get the ball back on a Paladin miss, Appalachian’s prospects dimmed darkly when Bothwell sank two free throws with just six seconds left on the clock.

App State’s 17-0 run in the second half to overcome the 16-point deficit, however, was impressive, with scoring contributions from Carvell Teasett, Terence Harcum, Christopher Mantis, C J Huntley, and Dibaji Walker.

After the game, Mountaineer head coach acknowledged the “fight” in his players but was obviously disappointed in the result.

“(That was) a tough finish against a really good team and a really good program,” said Kerns in his opening statement. “I am proud of our fight but disappointed in our play. Seven assists and 17 turnovers is not going to beat anybody. Disappointing.”

Of the game-changing momentum shift from a 17-0 run to failing to make but one field goal in the final six-minute stretch, Kerns said, “I thought that group did a tremendous job getting us back in the game, but they were absolutely exhausted. They were asking to be subbed. We subbed some guys in who should have helped us keep it going. We tried to run some stuff to give (certain) guys specific looks, but we missed a couple of quality looks. We got fouled, but at the end of the day we have to be able to sub with our depth, especially with who we sub. I credit that particular five for getting us back in it.”

The Mountaineers will be looking for a rebound on Friday, Dec. 2, when they play Charlotte in the Queen City’s Halton Arena, 7 p.m.

Noteworthy

• With 22 blocks on the young season, including three against Furman, Mountaineer freshman Justin Abson is tied for fourth in the nation with John Broome (Auburn) and Joshua Morgan (Southern California), behind Western Kentucky’s 7-5 center Jamarion Sharp (34), Oral Roberts’ 7-3 forward Connor Vanover (28), and Oklahoma State’s 6-10 Moussa Cisse. The 6-9 Abson is one of only three freshmen in the top 40 of the blocked shots category.
• Reflecting the team’s roster depth, offensively, App State is now ranked No. 57 in the NCAA’s Division I in bench points per game (29.75).  Among other Sun Belt Conference members, James Madison is No. 3 (39.75) and Troy is No. 10 (36.25).

SELECTED TEAM STATS

• Field Goal % – FUR 38%, APP 43%
• 3 Pt % – FUR 24%, APP 25%
• Free Throw % – FUR 83%, APP 67%
• Turnovers – FUR 11, APP 17
• Points off Turnovers – FUR 21, APP 17
• Total Rebounds – FUR 37, APP 37
• Offensive Rebounds – FUR 9, APP 5
• 2nd Chance Points – FUR 7, APP 4
• Fast Break Points – FUR 17, APP 10
• Blocks – FUR 2, APP 6
• Steals – FUR 10, APP 4
• Assists – FUR 18, APP 7

Leading Scorers

• FUR Bothwell (23)
• FUR Slawson (16)
• APP Gregory (12)
• FUR Foster (12)
• APP Harcum (11)
• APP Huntley (10)
• APP Abson (6)
• FUR Hien (6)

Rebounding Leaders

• FUR Slawson (12)
• FUR Hien (10)
• APP Huntley (7)
• APP Abson (7)

Blocked Shot Leaders

• APP Abson (3)
• APP Huntley (2)
• APP Walker (1)
• FUR Bothwell (1)
• FUR Slawson (1)

Steals

• FUR Foster (3)

Assists

• FUR Pegues (6)
• FUR Foster (4)
• APP Gregory (2)