By Zach Smith. BOONE, N.C. — For App State basketball fans, it was hard not to enjoy the Mountaineers’ thrashing of Division II contender Central Penn, 111-35, not just because the score was so lopsided but because it was accomplished as much with reserves and scout team players as with the team’s typical frontliners.
A dozen Mountaineers saw action Tuesday night in the second half of an App State basketball doubleheader. The women’s team defeated Charleston, 77-73, earlier in the evening.
The start…
… and the finish.
It was a night filled with highlights for the home side.
Graduate guard Bryant Greene got his first career start. A Boone native and Watauga High School alum, Greene posted career highs in points (14) and assists (7). He also saw 31 minutes of action, the most he’s played in his App State career.
Six different Mountaineers scored in double figures. Three of those, Tre’Von Spillers, Josh Hayes and Xavion Brown recorded double-doubles. Hayes scored a game-high 18 points while Brown grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds.
The first half went as expected for App State. Greene drained two free-throws early and, following a quick layup by Central Penn junior Jordan Strickland, the Mountaineers never trailed. App State went on six separate runs of six or more consecutive points in the first 20 minutes of action, taking a 59-19 lead into the locker room at halftime. The Mountaineers were good on 51.1% of shots and held the Knights to just 18.9% entering the break.
The second half was much of the same for the Mountaineers and their punishing defense. Central Penn made just three shots from the field over the second half, only scoring on free-throws over the final 15:42 of play. App State continued their great shooting form, hitting on half of their shots from the field over the final period.
App State head coach Dustin Kerns shared his thoughts on the matchup against Central Penn postgame, as well as a look into how App State schedules games around final exam periods.
“You know, we’re allowed to play two non-Division-I games a year,” Kerns said. “One of them we always try to strategically play right before exam period for a couple reasons. One, we want our guys to be here in class. We don’t want to be on the road and traveling so they can be in class. Two, it’s a long break, exams. Hopefully it goes the way it went tonight.”
Kerns made sure to point out Greene’s performance, who made his first start in his fifth season with the Mountaineers.
“Really happy for Bryant Greene. Started him tonight,” Kerns said. “Fifth-year senior, he means a lot to our program, does a lot for our program. Just a great representative of App State University and our program. He’s kind of a legend in the High Country and in the Boone community, so I really was glad to start him.”
Greene explained what it meant for him to perform well in his first career start.
“First of all, I just want to thank Coach Kerns and the coaching staff for giving me that opportunity,” Greene said. “It’s really just a testament to my teammates, getting to practice with them every day. I just really enjoyed getting to do this tonight with them. I’ll always cherish this moment for as long as I live.”
Greene became the first Boone native to start in an App State men’s basketball game since J.R. Archer in the 2010-11 season. He shared what it meant to play for his hometown team after being a lifelong fan.
“It means a lot,” Greene said. “Obviously growing up here, being an App fan my entire life, I bleed Black and Gold. I’ve been at App State since I can remember. I mean, this is surreal, to be able to play for the team I grew up cheering for my whole life. I really can’t put into words how special it was tonight.”
Xavion Brown had a career night as he posted a 12-point, 16-rebound double-double. Despite his own accomplishments, Brown’s first thoughts were to congratulate the walk-ons and scout team role players that were able to record quality playing time against Central Penn.
“First off, shoutout to all the walk-ons on our team,” Brown said. “They work as hard as us every day, if not harder. Being able to play with them, I like it a lot. It’s a feel-good moment because, obviously, they don’t get as much time as (the starters), or they don’t get to play as much as us. But being able to get them the ball, and to be able to watch them succeed and score, I’m happy for all of them. Especially (Greene).”
Central Penn’s loss drops the Knights to 1-9 on the season. Central Penn looks to snap their five-game losing skid Saturday (Dec. 9) at The Apprentice School in Newport News, Va., in the Great Ships Classic tournament. That matchup is set to tip off at 2 p.m.
With the win, App State extends their win streak to six straight. The Mountaineers improve to 7-2 on the campaign and look to continue that success next on Dec. 13 when they travel to Charlotte to face Queens. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+.
TOP APP STATE PERFORMERS
- Bryant Greene: 14 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds
- Xavion Brown: 12 points, 16 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 blocked shot, 1 steal
- Josh Hayes: 18 points, 12 rebounds, 4 blocked shots, 1 steal
- Tre’Von Spillers: 10 points, 11 rebounds
- Justin Abson: 15 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 6 blocked shots
- C J Huntley: 11 points, 9 rebounds, 1 steal
Team Comparison
| CP | APP | ||
| FG% | 13% | 51% | |
| FGs | 10-75 | 44-87 | |
| 3FG% | 5% | 33% | |
| 3FGs | 1-22 | 12-36 | |
| FT% | 56% | 79% | |
| FTs | 14-25 | 11-14 | |
| TOs | 12 | 15 | |
| PtsOffTO | 2 | 16 | |
| TotReb | 35 | 80 | |
| DefReb | 19 | 55 | |
| Off Reb | 16 | 25 | |
| 2ndChPts | 5 | 24 | |
| BenchPts | 21 | 56 | |
| PtsPaint | 12 | 62 | |
| FstBkPt | 8 | 23 | |
| Blocks | 2 | 16 | |
| Steals | 10 | 9 | |
| Assts | 3 | 31 | |
| Times Tied: | 2 | ||
| Lead Chg: | 0 | ||
| LeadTime | 0:00 | 39:42 | |
