By Bret Strelow. BOONE, N.C. — Mark Speir is returning to Boone for his third stint on App State’s football staff, as he will serve as senior assistant to head coach Shawn Clark, who made the announcement Friday, Feb. 9.
Speir spent nine seasons as a title-winning assistant at App State from 2003-11 before becoming an FCS head coach, and he served as a senior analyst under Clark at App State in 2021. Over the last two seasons, Speir was Scott Satterfield’s chief of staff at Louisville (2022) and Cincinnati (2023).
“We are excited to welcome Mark back to Boone,” Clark said. “He and his family are true Mountaineers. Mark’s experience as a Division I head coach and his familiarity with our program and culture will make his presence a tremendous asset to App State Football.”
As a member of Jerry Moore’s staff at App State late in the program’s FCS era, Speir helped the Mountaineers win three straight national championships and six conference titles in nine seasons. That success led to him being hired as the head coach at Western Carolina, where he was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson National FCS Coach of the Year award during his 10 years with the Catamounts.
“I am beyond humbled and blessed to be back home in Boone,” Speir said. “App State has been such a special place for my family. I am grateful to Coach Clark for the opportunity to be back as part of App Nation!”
A Kannapolis, N.C., native, Speir has spent three decades in coaching. He and his wife, Paige, have maintained close ties to App State, where their son Zeb was a quarterback under Satterfield from 2015-18 and their youngest son, Jackson, is currently a student. Zeb is the tight ends coach at Chattanooga.
In addition to serving as App State’s recruiting coordinator from 2004-11, Speir coached running backs (2003-04), defensive linemen (2005-08), defensive ends (2009-10) and inside linebackers (2011) in Boone. In 2009, he was named the national FCS Assistant Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association.
App State posted a combined record of 92-28 during Speir’s nine seasons as an assistant, and he was the position coach for six All-Americans: DL Jason Hunter, DL Marques Murrell, DL Gary Tharrington, DL Anthony “Whopper” Williams, DL Jabari Fletcher and LB Jeremy Kimbrough.
Speir also coached as an assistant at Western Carolina, Presbyterian and Elon.
Off the field, Speir has made an incredible impact through his involvement in many charitable causes, including raising more than $100,000 to rebuild the Memorial Christian Hospital in Bangladesh. Part of the fundraising came through his participation in the 2008 Music City Marathon in Nashville, the 2009 Boston Marathon (which he completed in less than four hours) and the 2010 Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati.
By Zach Smith. BOONE, N.C. — Emotions ran high in Boone Feb. 7, as App State faced ULM in a foul-riddled game. The Mountaineers defeated the Warhawks on National Girls and Women in Sports Day, 78-71.
App State was led by a 24-point performance by senior guard Faith Alston, while junior Emily Carver netted 15 in her return to Boone since a late-December injury. Fifth-year guard Taylor Lewis nearly posted a double-double, scoring 14 and grabbing a team-high nine rebounds. Carver and Alston were key distributors for the Mountaineers, dishing out five and four assists, respectively.
FILE PHOTO. App State’s Faith Alston was again aggressive in driving to the basket, this time vs. Texas State on Jan. 4. Photographic image by David Rogers
Senior guard Jakayla Johnson was ULM’s top scorer with 21 points, but Daisha Bradford’s 14-point, 10-rebound double-double cemented her spot as the Warhawks’ leader. Fifth-year guard Sania Wells dished out a team-best six assists.
The Mountaineers dominated the first quarter. Following an opening layup from ULM, App State scored each of the next nine points. The Black and Gold held the Warhawks to just four more points in the period, scoring seven of their own in that span. App State took a 10-point lead into the second quarter.
ULM clawed back through the first nine minutes of the second period. The Mountaineers extended their lead to as many as 13 points, but the Warhawks rode two separate 6-0 runs to bring the game within five points. Following a sequence of back-and-forth scoring, App State sophomore Chaé Harris went to the line for two free-throws with nine seconds on the clock, cashing in on one. Harris grabbed her own rebound and drew another foul, this time knocking down both shots from the charity stripe to send the Mountaineers to halftime with another 10-point advantage.
App State extended their lead again in the third stanza, but ULM wouldn’t go away easily. With the Mountaineer lead up to 15 points, the Warhawks went on a 10-0 run – the largest streak of the night – to bring the game back within five. App State earned one point back, entering the final period ahead by six points.
The fourth quarter saw the most foul trouble, as 18 of the 50 total infractions were called in the 10-minute period. ULM graduate guard Lauren Gross scored each of her 10 points in the frame to bring the Warhawks within a single point. The Mountaineers weren’t deterred, though, and cashed in on six-straight free-throws to close out the game with a win. App State earned their 13th all-time win over ULM, remaining undefeated against the Warhawks.
“you guys should really come see these girls play”
App State head coach Angel Elderkin opened her postgame press conference with a plea to App State fans before giving her statement on the game.
“What a great win,” Elderkin said. “What an outstanding win, and, I’m gonna say, there’s four more home games to watch this group. I’m just gonna continue to beg people to come out and see this team play. If you can’t see their heart, feel their heart, tonight it was just on full display.”
Elderkin then shared her thoughts on the Mountaineers’ victory over ULM in a close, tense game.
“Just a great team win,” Elderkin said. “Just really, really excited. Especially when we’ve played a lot of this season without Emily Carver and without Taylor Lewis. To see the way that they’re contributing to this team right now, this is what this game is about. How do you deal with adversity? And this group is showing up, showing it every time we step on to the court.”
App State junior guard Emily Carver saw her first action in the Holmes Center since her lower-body injury in late December. Carver spoke on what her return to basketball in Boone meant for her.
“It feels great,” Carver said. “Just knowing that my teammates have confidence in me every time I step out on the court, even when we were on the road. Knowing that, coming back from an injury, that my teammates are still that confident in me, it feels great to step back out there.”
Elderkin gave her thoughts on what Carver’s return to the lineup means for the team.
“Stability,” Elderkin said. “You know, Emily is a stable player who does her job on both sides of the ball. She also brings just a winning edge and a winning mindset to this group. And just the experience, you know? Emily’s in her third year of playing these Sun Belt games, knowing what it takes. I know, as a coach, just going into these games, having a level of confidence and knowing the toughness that she brings to the table and the team.”
App State’s home matchup against ULM fell on Feb. 7, National Girls and Women in Sports day. COVID senior Taylor Lewis shared how the perception of women’s sports has changed in her time as a collegiate athlete.
“I think this year has been the best year around women’s sports,” Lewis said. “I think we’ve had a lot more fans to come out and I think, for the continuing years and for everybody out there, you guys should really come see these girls play. Emily Carver is a superstar, Faith Alston is one of the best guards in the nation, so, I think women’s sports should be taken more seriously.”
Faith Alston scored a team-high 24 points in the Mountaineers’ Feb. 7 victory over ULM. Photographic image by Michael Mann, courtesy of App State Athletics.
Elderkin shared what it meant to her that women’s sports are becoming more mainstream.
“I have to say, there was a boy’s team behind our bench,” Elderkin said. “They come to our camp. That stuff makes my heart so happy. They’re behind like ‘come on Faith, come on Zada,’ they know our players by name. Our female student-athletes by name. That is special and that just doesn’t happen everywhere.”
Elderkin pointed out that, while women’s sports are gaining more attention, there’s still progress to be made in the High Country.
“Although we’ve come a long way, we’re nowhere near where we need to be” Elderkin said. “Women’s basketball is on the rise. So, Boone, come on, let’s go, let’s start to show these ladies some love.”
As a team, App State shot at a 41 percent clip, compared to ULM’s 37 percent mark. The Mountaineers out-rebounded the Warhawks, 44-35, including 11 offensive boards leading to 11 second-chance points. App State held the lead over ULM for all but 90 seconds.
“How do you deal with adversity?”
Whistles were blown on 50 fouls in the matchup. Those fouls were punctuated by a tense moment with just over five minutes left in the fourth quarter, resulting in a technical foul each for App State’s Alexis Black and ULM’s Brianna Harris. Warhawk guard Jakayla Johnson also received a technical foul in the contest.
With the loss, the Warhawk’s losing skid extends to three games. ULM looks to bounce back Feb. 10 as they travel to Toledo for the second leg of the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge. Tipoff is set for 12 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+.
App State moves to 12-11 with a 6-6 Sun Belt record with the victory. The Mountaineers look to continue their winning ways Feb. 10 as they travel to face Western Michigan in the second installment of the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge. The game is slated to tipoff at 2 p.m., and can be streamed on ESPN+.
By David Rogers. ORLANDO, Fla. — In a stacked field — 149 of the most elite male long distance running athletes in the U.S. — finishing in the top 20, much less the top 10 is quite an accomplishment. Representing Blowing Rock based ZAP Endurance, Josh Endurance was No. 8 to cross the finish line on Jan. 3 in the U.S. Olympic Trials for the marathon.
Izewski did not make the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team but served notice that he is a talent to be reckoned with in professional long distance running. His 2:11:09 time broke the ZAP Endurance club record and he was a little more than two minutes behind first place finisher, Connor Mantz, running for Nike and clocking 2:09:06. The No. 2 finisher was Clayton Young (ASICS/Run Elite Program), in 2:09:06. Leonard Korir (Nike/U.S. Army WCAP) finished at No. 3 in a time of 2:09:57.
All of the athletes competing in the Feb. 3 Olympic Trials event had to first “qualify” by running beneath a certain standard. For the men, an athlete had to have run the 26.2 mile distance in 2:18:0 between Jan. 1, 2022 and December 5, 2023 OR a half marathon in 1:03:00. The women’s qualifying standards were 2:37:00 for the marathon and 1:12:00 for the half marathon.
The top three athletes in the Trials event are selected to represent the U.S. in their respective men’s and women’s events.
The marathon events are scheduled for Aug. 10, 2024, covering an historic route through Paris and out to Versailles and back. The historic event recognized with the Olympic marathon route is a key moment from the French Revolution: the Women’s March on Versailles, on 5 October 1789.
ZAP Endurance, an elite, professional distance running club based in Blowing Rock, had six athletes competing who met the qualifying standard. On the women’s side, ZAP member and former App State cross country and long distance runner in track, Tristin Van Ord finished the race at No. 17 in the field of 117 elite U.S. female athletes.
The other ZAP members competing:
MEN: Tyler Pennel, who in 2016 (Los Angeles) finished No. 5 out of approximately 280 elite runners (he led the field from Mile 13 to Mile 19), was forced to drop out of the Orlando trials after 11 miles because of a hamstring injury. Through that distance he was running a 5:00 mile pace, including a 4:50 pace at Mile 9.
MEN: Andrew Colley was running at an impressive, 4:44 mile pace through Mile 17 and was in touch with the race leaders when he was forced to retire because of gastrointestinal issues, at Mile 19.
WOMEN: Annemarie Tuxbury finished at No. 62, clocking a time of 2:39:53, averaging 6:06 minutes per mile.
WOMEN: Whitney Macon made it through the 20-miles mark before having to abandon the race due to injury. When she dropped out, she was running at approximately a 6:39 mile pace.
By Zach Smith. STATESBORO, Ga. — An old saying suggests, “You get what you pay for.” The 2,412 fans in Hanner Fieldhouse on Feb. 3 got that and more: an overtime thriller of a basketball game that saw visiting Appalachian State outlast Georgia Southern, 85-84.
Mountaineer guard Terence Harcum once again led his team’s offensive production. His 26 points — the most points scored by a Mountaineer this season — propelled App State past the Eagles in this heated rivalry that dates back to when both were members of the Southern Conference.
FILE PHOTO. App State sophomore Justin Abson with a slam Dec. 5 against Central Penn. Photographic image by David Rodgers.
But Harcum was far from alone in App State’s offensive output. Sophomore Justin Abson netted a career high 20 points to go along with four critical blocks on the defensive end. Meanwhile, junior forward Tre’Von Spillers posted his sixth double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Myles Tate dished out a team-best five assists.
Justin Abson netted a career high 20 points to go along with four critical blocks.
Georgia Southern was led by a 24-point performance from Tyren Moore, while Avantae Parker cashed in on a career-best 19 points.
Both sides traded jabs through the first 10 minutes of the game, though App State held a narrow advantage. The visitors’ edge didn’t last long as the Eagles went on a 16-2 tear to take a game-high, 9-point lead. The Mountaineers clawed back thanks to consecutive three-pointers by Tate. Georgia Southern countered with two buckets late in the half to take a six-point advantage into the locker room at intermission.
No. 9? No. 9? No. 9?
The second half was a game of runs. Following early, back-and-forth scoring that resulted in another Georgia Southern nine-point lead, App State went on a 9-0 run of its own. The Eagles countered with still another 9-point streak but the Mountaineers followed that up with yet another — you guessed it — run of nine consecutive points.
Timely three-pointers from Harcum and junior forward Christopher Mantis punctuated each of App State’s runs. With just 24 seconds remaining in regulation, the Mountaineers took their first lead since the 7:47 mark of the first half. With the game on the line, GSU’s Parker nailed a driving layup to tie the game and send the contest into overtime.
The bonus minutes were just as exciting as the 40 minutes of regulation. Abson notched his career-best 18th point to open the overtime period, then Parker responded for the Eagles with two baskets in the paint to put Georgia Southern back on top. Both sides converted dueling layups before Parker once again stepped up, this time cashing in on his lone shot from beyond the arc to give the Eagles a 83-80 lead with 59 seconds on the clock. Harcum followed up with his most important three points of the night, draining his fifth deep-ball of the afternoon.
With less than 30 seconds, each possession seemed to last a lifetime, fans of both sides holding their breath. Georgia Southern’s Eugene Brown III drove to the rim and drew what proved to be a critical foul. He converted on only one of his two shots from the charity stripe, giving the Mountaineers a chance to take a late lead. With just nine seconds on the clock, fifth-year forward Donovan Gregory drove to the rim, scoring on a layup to put App State ahead by one. Following timeouts by both head coaches, Georgia Southern had one final chance with just four seconds remaining. Parker attacked the rim, but a dramatic block by Abson sealed the victory for the Mountaineers.
FILE PHOTO. The Mountaineers’ Donovan Gregory launches a 3-pointer on Nov. 26 vs. Austin Peay. Photographic image by David Rogers
Despite their late stand, App State struggled defensively for the majority of the afternoon. Georgia Southern shot at an impressive 53 percent clip, besting the Mountaineers’ 48 percent mark. App State won the rebounding battle, 42-34, including 18 offensive boards leading to 21 second-chance points. The Mountaineers led just over 14 minutes, compared to the Eagles’ nearly 24 minutes in the driver’s seat.
With the loss, Georgia Southern falls to 5-18 overall, with a 5-6 Sun Belt record. The Eagles look to rebound Wednesday (Feb. 7) as they travel to face South Alabama. Tipoff is slated for 8 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+.
App State’s eighth consecutive win makes them the only D-I program to have multiple 8+ game win streaks this season, becoming the first Sun Belt team to reach 10 conference wins in the process. The Mountaineers cap their three-game road trip with a visit to Texas State on Feb. 7. Tipoff is 8 p.m., and the game can be streamed on ESPN+.
By Zach Smith. CONWAY, S.C. — Following losses to three of the top four schools in the Sun Belt Conference women’s basketball standings, App State looked to get back into the win column on Feb., traveling to Conway, S,C. to face Coastal Carolina. Behind a barrage of three-pointers by Alexis Black, Faith Alston, Emily Carver and Taylor Lewis, the Mountaineers snapped a four-game losing skid in defeating the Chanticleers, 80-70.
Each of App State’s top four scorers netted at least three shots from beyond the arc in their victory over Coastal Carolina. Alston’s 18 points led the way for the Mountaineers, while Lewis (16 points)), Black (15) and Carver (13) rounded out the App State scoring effort. Lewis’ points and her five made three-pointers marked career highs for the senior guard. Carver was the key distributor for the Mountaineers, dishing out six assists.
FILE PHOTO. App State junior guard Emily Carver fights for an offensive rebound before going up for second chance points against College of Charleston on Dec. 5. Photographic image by David Rogers
Coastal Carolina was led by a season-high 25 points from Arin Freeman. Makaila Cange also performed well for the Chanticleers, posting a “double-double” of 17 points and 10 rebounds.
The first quarter was dominated by Lewis. The COVID senior netted 12 of her 16 points in the period, going 4-5 from beyond the arc. The Mountaineers shot at a 53% clip in the opening quarter and a pressing defense limiting Coastal Carolina to just a 32% mark in the process.
Three-point shooting didn’t slow down for App State in the second period. The Mountaineers cashed in on another six shots from deep, three from Black. Coastal Carolina had a chance to close the gap with 11 free-throw attempts in the quarter, but were only able to convert on five. App State took a 10-point lead into the locker room.
The Mountaineers stretched their lead to as many as 19 in the third stanza, riding three separate runs of at least five consecutive points to extend the deficit. Alston netted 11 of her team-high 18 points in the period. Cange scored the last bucket of the frame for the Coastal Carolina, but the Chanticleers still trailed by 17 entering the fourth quarter.
Coastal Carolina came to life early in the final period. The Chanticleers went on a 10-1 run over the first three minutes of the quarter, and looked to mount a furious comeback. App State’s defense stood their ground, though, and Coastal Carolina was held without a made shot from the field over the final 2:48 to play.
FILE PHOTO. App State’s Alexis Black had a busy night on Jan. 4, including a career best six steals vs. Texas State. Photographic image by David Rogers
As a team, App State shot 47% from the field, punctuated by a stratospheric 52% clip from beyond the arc. The Mountaineers led wire-to-wire, never giving up their advantage over the final 38:46.
With the loss, Coastal Carolina falls to 2-9 in Sun Belt play, ahead of only South Alabama in the conference standings. The Chanticleers look to bounce back Wednesday (Feb. 7) as they host Texas State before going on the road for their next four games. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+.
App State’s victory improves the team’s Sun Belt record to 5-6. The Mountaineers return to Boone for five of their next six contests, the lone road test being a trip to Western Michigan for the second leg in the Sun Belt-MAC Challenge. The first match-up in App State’s conference home stand is a battle with ULM on for Wednesday, Feb. 7, with tipoff set for 6:30 p.m., and streamed on ESPN+.
By Zach Smith. BOONE, N.C. — Following a break in Sun Belt action for a double-overtime win over Toledo, App State returned to conference play Feb. 15 in their matchup with Marshall. The Mountaineers earned a quality win over the visiting Thundering Herd, 73-58.
Fifth-year forward Donovan Gregory, who led the way for App State with 19 points, was one of three Mountaineers to score in double digits. Junior forward Tre’Von Spillers (14) and junior guard Myles Tate (12) also reached double figures. Spillers added on a season-high 14 rebounds to notch his seventh double-double of the season. Tate dished out a game-best five assists.
Myles Tate (12) and Tre’Von Spillers (24) combined for 38 points in the Mountaineers’ Jan. 17 victory over Georgia State. Photographic image by Gabriel Wood, courtesy of App State Athletics.
Marshall was led by a 19-point Kevon Voyles performance, while Jacob Conner and Kamdyn Curfman netted 11 each to round out the Herd’s top scorers. Nate Martin posted team-highs in rebounds (12) and assists (5).
The first half proved to be a game of runs. Following five alternating makes in the paint, App State went on a 12-2 streak to take a nine-point lead. Marshall snapped that streak by scoring 11 of the next 13 points to tie the game, but back-to-back three-pointers put the Mountaineers ahead by six at the final media break of the half. App State didn’t hit on a shot from the floor over the final three minutes to the buzzer, and Marshall brought the game to within two points entering intermission.
The home side showed off their endurance in the second period. The Thundering Herd kept the game within a point early, but App State allowed just four made shots over the final ten minutes of action. The Mountaineers kept their unblemished record at the Holmes Center intact, remaining the only unbeaten Sun Belt team at home this season.
App State head coach Dustin Kerns shared his thoughts on the Mountaineers’ victory postgame.
“I just thought it was a really, really solid effort by our guys,” Kerns said. “I thought we had a really good night defensively.”
What we’re doing means a lot to him
Donovan Gregory was the key player for App State in their victory over Marshall. Gregory led the Mountaineers with 19 points while grabbing a season-best six steals on the defensive end. Kerns spoke on Gregory’s performance.
“He was terrific,” Kerns said. “Six steals, 19 points, he was just very efficient. I thought he defended really well, four assists. When it comes to winning time, you know, it means a lot to him. What we’re doing means a lot to him.”
Tre’Von Spillers grabbed 14 rebounds in App State’s Feb. 15 victory, the most he’s pulled in a game in the 2023-24 campaign. Kerns highlighted what Spillers provides his team.
“It’s part of his strength, rebounding the ball,” Kerns said. “He went out there and got 14 [points] and 14 [rebounds]. I also think he’s such a good rebounder that opposing teams are putting an emphasis on keeping him off the glass as well. Proud of him, I thought he had a really good game.”
“Our emphasis this week was on getting back to our identity”
App State seemed to be back to normal following their thrilling, double-overtime win over Toledo Feb. 10. Kerns shared the Mountaineers’ emphasis on getting back to their brand of basketball.
“Our emphasis this week was on getting back to our identity,” Kerns said. “Now, credit Toledo, right? They are one of the top scoring teams in the country. That is kind of the way you gotta beat them, by out-scoring them, right? But we really focused this week on getting back to our identity.”
As a team, App State shot just over 50 percent from the floor, compared to Marshall’s 33 percent clip. The Mountaineers outrebounded the Herd, 38-35, and App State’s bench out-scored Marshall’s reserves, 22-6.
Marshall’s loss drops them to 7-6 in Sun Belt play, good for seventh in the conference standings. The Thundering Herd travels to Conway, SC Feb. 17 for a battle with Coastal Carolina. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m., and the game can be streamed on ESPN+.
App State moves to 11-2 in Sun Belt contests with the win. Following Troy’s loss to Arkansas State, the Mountaineers hold sole possession of first place in the conference. App State returns to action Feb. 17, as they play host to Louisiana in a basketball double-header with the women’s team. The game is slated to tipoff at 4:30 p.m., and can be streamed on ESPN+.
By Zach Smith. ATLANTA, Ga. — App State traveled to Atlanta Thursday night (Feb. 1) looking to extend their win streak to seven games. The Mountaineers were successful, defeating Georgia State, 81-71 — to clinch the team’s third sweep of a Sun Belt Conference opponent.
While junior guard Terence Harcum scored a team-high 22 points for App State, sophomore forward Justin Abson was arguably the Mountaineers’ player of the game. Abson posted a season-high 15 points to go along with a career-best 16 rebounds. Once again, Abson’s dominance in the defensive paint was on display as he blocked seven Panther shots.
FILE PHOTO. Mountaineer sophomore Justin Abson recorded his first double-double of the season, including this thunderous dunk at Oregon State on Nov. 15. Photo courtesy of Oregon State Athletics
Georgia State was led by junior guard Lucas Taylor’s 14-point display, while four other Panthers scored at least 10 points. Jay’Den Turner (13), Leslie Nkereuwem (13), Dwon Odom (10) and Julian Mackey (10) rounded out the Panthers’ scoring effort.
Entering Thursday’s contest, App State had won six games in a row to sit atop the Sun Belt standings and looked to win their ninth conference game on the season. Georgia State looked to stop App State’s streak, aiming to put an end to their own four-game skid.
Neither side had an edge in the first half. Georgia State held a two-point lead over the Mountaineers at the second media timeout, but App State made adjustments at the break. Following a made shot in the paint for both sides, junior forward Christopher Mantis led the Mountaineers to a 8-0 run, scoring all but two of App State’s points in that span. Georgia State wouldn’t give up easily, though, as they later scored the final six points of the period, tying the game at 30 apiece at the halftime buzzer.
App State appeared to be a different team out of the locker room for the second half. The Mountaineers went on a 14-2 run over the first 4:32 of the period. Georgia State never got within seven points over the remaining 15:28, and App State cemented their ninth Sun Belt win of the season.
FILE PHOTO. Christopher Mantis hits from long distance for the Mountaineers vs. Central Penn on Dec. 5. Photographic image by David Rogers
As a team, the Mountaineers shot at a 44% clip, compared to Georgia State’s 38% mark. App State won the rebound battle, 49-41, and committed just nine fouls to the Panthers’ 16. Anchored by Abson’s presence in the paint, the Mountaineers improved on their NCAA-best 7.0 blocks per game with nine swatted shots.
Georgia State kicked off one of the toughest stretches of their season in the loss to App State. Beginning with Thursday’s contest, the Panthers face each of the top four teams in the Sun Belt over a five-game span. Georgia State’s next matchup is a home battle with second-place Troy. Tipoff is set for Saturday (Feb. 3) at 4:00p.m., and the game can be streamed on ESPN+.
App State looks to match their eight game win streak Saturday, as they travel to Statesboro, Ga. for a heated rivalry date with Georgia Southern. The matchup is slated to tipoff at 3:00p.m., and can be streamed on ESPN+.
By Zach Smith. BOONE, N.C. — A crowd of 8,052, the largest since 2009, showed up at the Holmes Center Saturday night (Jan. 27) to witness a battle between two Sun Belt powerhouses. App State once again showed out on national television, defeating James Madison, 82-76.
Entering Saturday’s contest, the Mountaineers and the Dukes sat atop the Sun Belt Conference standings. Both programs boasted impressive, non-conference results, leading to Saturday’s most anticipated home basketball game in recent memory for the Mountaineers.
it felt like a home court, legit atmosphere
App State hosted a “block party” in front of the third-largest crowd since the Holmes Center opened in 2000. The Mountaineers solidified a reputation as the best shot-blocking team in the country, swatting away 12 shots. Sophomore forward Justin Abson tied the App State record with eight blocks of his own.
Tre’Von Spillers slams home two of his team-high 21 points in front of a sold-out Holmes Center. Photographic image by Flaco Rafael for High Country Sports.
The Mountaineer scoring effort was led by junior forward Tre’Von Spillers. His 21 points, along with Myles Tate’s 10 and 14 each by Donovan Gregory and Terence Harcum, was enough to put the Dukes away. Gregory was the Mountaineers’ top distributor, assisting on six made shots.
Terrence Edwards Jr. led the way for JMU with 25 points, while TJ Bickerstaff (15) and Julien Wooden (8) both surpassed the 1,000 career point milestone. Michael Green III’s five assists was a team-high for the Dukes.
The first two minutes were all JMU. Following Harcum’s opening shot, the Dukes went on a 6-0 run to take an early lead. App State found their stride, though, and six Mountaineers scored on their ensuing 13-1 run. App State’s defense came alive in that stretch, as JMU was unable to convert on a shot from the field over a seven-minute period. Neither team was able to score more than five consecutive points following the opening runs, and App State took an eight-point lead into the locker room.
8,052 fans were in attendance to watch App State’s statement win over the Dukes. Photographic image by Flaco Rafael for High Country Sports.
The second half was dominated by App State’s free-throw shooting. The Mountaineers scored 25 points from the line, more than half of their 46 total points in the final 20 minutes. JMU did try to mount a miraculous late-game comeback, but were only able to get within four points of the Mountaineers. App State was able to put the Dukes away, completing a season sweep of the preseason Sun Belt favorites.
App State head coach Dustin Kerns shared his thoughts on the matchup and atmosphere postgame.
“It was a great college basketball game from two really good teams,” Kerns said. “But, the nation seeing Boone, App State, our atmosphere, you know, from a recruiting standpoint, all of the above.”
Justin Abson, unbelievable
Justin Abson posted an App State program-record eight blocks in the victory over JMU. Kerns gave Abson credit for his performance Saturday night.
“Justin Abson, unbelievable,” Kerns said. “And we had a lot of guys, right? But from a defensive standpoint, protecting the rim, he was just unbelievably outstanding. Eight blocks, and I think he probably altered 10 more.”
Abson shared his perspective on his historic night.
“Honestly, going into the game I wasn’t thinking I was gonna get a lot of blocks,” Abson said. “In the previous game [against JMU] I had four blocks, and I saw the interview where [JMU head coach Mark Byington] said the team needed to emphasize not attacking me. I guess he didn’t do a good enough job and that was the end result.”
Myles Tate celebrates with fans following App State’s 82-76 victory over James Madison. Photographic image by Flaco Rafael for High Country Sports.
Saturday night saw the largest crowd at the Holmes Convocation Center since the Steph Curry-led Davidson visited in 2009. It was the second game to have an attendance of 7,000 or more this season. Kerns shared what he thought was different about the crowd against JMU vs the Mountaineers’ statement win over Auburn in early December.
“I thought tonight was about App State,” Kerns said. “I thought maybe the Auburn game was a little like ‘hey we’ve got Auburn here, big game, let’s go see.’ But I thought that tonight was like, we had people here to see App State play.”
Kerns spoke on what the home court atmosphere meant to him and how it impacted App State’s performance.
“After our pregame meal, which is four hours before the game, I was told there were students outside,” Kerns said. “So I went up there, and it was like 50 or 60, it wasn’t just two or three. That was kind of like a ‘wow’ moment. It was really cool, but I think the energy in the building, our students, our crowd, it felt like a home court, legit atmosphere. Once again, it rose our level, it hurt our opponent tonight, James Madison, but it really felt like a legit home court atmosphere.”
Tre’Von Spillers rises to the rim in front of a packed student section. Photographic image by Flaco Rafael for High Country Sports.
As a team, both sides shot at a 42% clip with six made three-pointers each. App State had the edge from the charity stripe, cashing in on 30 of their 40 free-throw attempts. The Mountaineers’ bench outscored James Madison’s, 22-10, But the Dukes out-rebounded App State, 41-39.
With the loss, JMU falls to a three-way tie for third in the Sun Belt standings. After a perfect non-conference slate, the Dukes have dropped three games to conference foes. Two of those losses have come at the hands of App State. JMU looks to rebound Thursday (Feb. 1), as they play host to Coastal Carolina. Tipoff is set for 7:00p.m., and the game can be streamed on ESPN+.
App State finishes their four-game homestand on a six-game win streak. The Mountaineers retain their solo position at the top of the Sun Belt, moving to 8-1 in conference play. App State returns to action Thursday, as they travel to Atlanta for a rematch with Georgia State. The game is slated to tipoff at 7:00p.m., and can be streamed on ESPN+.
By Zach Smith. BOONE, N.C. — Looking to retain their position at the top of the Sun Belt standings, App State battled long-time rival Georgia Southern Thursday night (Jan. 25). The Mountaineers extended their win streak to five games with their victory over the Eagles, 84-74.
The App State scoring effort was led by junior guard Terence Harcum, who posted a season-high 23 points. Harcum was one of four Mountaineers to score double-digit points, joined by Tre’Von Spillers (13), Donovan Gregory (12) and Justin Abson (11). Spillers and Abson tacked on nine rebounds each while freshman guard Jordan Marsh dished out a team-high three assists.
Georgia Southern was led by a 28-point performance from Tyren Moore, while Eugene Brown III grabbed a team-best seven rebounds.
FILE PHOTO. Justin Abson (21) had his own highlight reel moments on Dec. 5. Photographic image by David Rogers
Early in the first half, everything seemed to go in App State’s favor. The Mountaineers scored the game’s first seven points, holding the Eagle scoring effort off through nearly the first three minutes. App State rode Georgia Southern’s shooting struggles to an 11-point lead, but the Eagles weren’t going away easily. Georgia Southern clawed their way back to just a 3-point deficit, but the Mountaineers scored nine consecutive points to extend their advantage to 12. Late in the half, the Eagles went on a 7-0 run of their own, cutting App State’s halftime lead to five points.
With the position we’re in, we’re gonna get everybody’s best shot
The tide seemed to shift in Georgia Southern’s favor to start the second half. App State scored six of the first eight points in the period but the Eagles went on a 15-5 run to take their first lead of the game. Trailing by one point, the Mountaineers found an extra gear. With the crowd becoming more involved by the second, App State responded with another 9-0 run to jump back out in front. Georgia Southern never saw the lead again, and the Mountaineers nested the Eagles to remain undefeated at the Holmes Convocation Center.
App State head coach Dustin Kerns shared his thoughts on the matchup post-game.
“It’s Sun Belt basketball,” Kerns said. “With the position we’re in, we’re gonna get everybody’s best shot, and we certainly got their best shot tonight. Proud of our guys, I thought it was just a hard-fought game.”
[The crowd] just keeps getting bigger and bigger
Thursday’s game saw another large turnout from the App State student section, dubbed the “Mountaineer Menace.” Kerns spoke on what it means to have such a hostile home environment.
“[The crowd] just keeps getting bigger and bigger,” Kerns said. “I don’t know what the attendance was tonight here, but it felt like a big crowd. I really thought our students got into it and really willed us to some stops there. It’s great, and it’s helping. I think it’s helping raise the level of our team and it’s hurting our opponents.”
Georgia Southern erased a nine-point deficit to take their first lead of the game in the second half, but App State immediately regained control. Sophomore forward Justin Abson explained what changed for the Mountaineers to jump back out in front.
“Our intensity,” Abson said. “We felt like we were letting up a little bit, so we just had to put our foot on the gas and take the game back over.”
App State’s next matchup is one that’s been circled on the calendar since early this season. With the Mountaineers playing host to the 18-2 James Madison Dukes Saturday (Jan. 27), Abson and Harcum had one message for the fans.
“Pack Holmes, baby.”
As a team, App State hit on 47% of their shots from the field, compared to Georgia Southern’s 45% clip. The Mountaineers held their rivals to just three made three-pointers, none of which came in the second half. App State once again dominated on the glass, out-rebounding the Eagles, 43-35. Those rebounds were highlighted by the Mountaineers’ 16 offensive-boards, leading to 25 second-chance points. App State’s defense also continued to shine, as their nine blocked shots catapulted them to the top of the country in blocks per game.
With the loss, Georgia Southern falls to 4-16, with an even 4-4 record in Sun Belt play. The Eagles look to tally on another victory Saturday, as they travel to face Old Dominion. Tip-off is set for 7:00p.m., and the game can be streamed on ESPN+.
App State moves to 16-4 following Thursday’s victory, marking their best 20-game start to a season since the 1988-89 campaign. The Mountaineers’ next test is in front of a nationally-televised audience against James Madison. The battle of the top two teams in the Sun Belt is slated to tip-off at 6:00p.m., and will be broadcast on ESPN2.
By Zach Smith. BOONE, N.C. — Temperatures in Boone were frigid Wednesday (Jan. 17). App State men’s basketball remained hot. The Mountaineers continued their early season campaign, defeating Georgia State, 76-68.
App State was once again led by junior forward Tre’Von Spillers, who posted his fifth double-double of the 2023-24 campaign. Spillers’ 23 points and 13 rebounds were both team-highs, while fellow junior transfer Myles Tate was the key distributor for the Mountaineers, dishing out six assists to go along with his 15 points. Fifth-year forward Donovan Gregory grabbed a season-high 11 rebounds.
Georgia State guards Brenden Tucker and Lucas Taylor each scored 12 points, tied for team-best. Forward Jay’Den Turner pulled 12 rebounds for the Panthers.
FILE PHOTO. Tre’Von Spillers with a slam on Dec. 5 against Central Penn. Photographic image by David Rogers
Fans of defensive, low-scoring basketball loved the opening five minutes of the game. Following a combined six misses from the field, the first points were scored just under two minutes in, via a dunk by Spillers. The slam was the first of six from the JUCO transfer. Neither team could pull away, though, and the first media break came as the score was just 5-4 in App State’s favor.
“We feel like that’s our identity”
The score remained close for most of the half, until the Mountaineers went on their first of two 7-0 runs in the period with 6:18 remaining. More back-and-forth scoring followed before the home side went on their second run of seven consecutive points. The second run earned the Mountaineers an 11-point lead, their largest of the day. Entering halftime, App State led, 39-30.
Georgia State’s first-half scoring troubles were centered around an abysmal 13% clip from beyond the arc. That changed quickly in the second half, as Turner drained a long-range shot to score the period’s first points. App State was able to extend their lead back to 11, but the Panthers earned the next eight consecutive points to cut the Mountaineer lead to three. Just over 90 seconds later, Turner converted on another three-pointer, tying the game for the first time since the game’s opening bucket. App State was then able to score 11 of the next 14 points to widen the gap to nine points and, following back-to-back Georgia State shots from deep, the Mountaineers put the game away.
App State head coach Dustin Kerns shared his thoughts on his team’s performance, post-game.
“Really proud of our guys. Hard-fought win against a really good team,” Kerns said. “They’ve been arguably one of the hottest teams in the league and we had to play really, really well to win this game.”
Kerns gave an insight into how he prepares his team for a more physical matchup.
“We try to be the more physical team. We talk about it all the time,” Kerns said. “We feel that if we play as hard as we can, as physical as we can, we can wear down teams.”
That’s the sign of a really good team.
All nine Mountaineers that saw action against Georgia State recorded at least two points. Kerns spoke on what that means for him, as well how important it is for the team.
“I think that we’ve got nine starters,” Kerns said. “We’ve had that, where we’ve had a couple guys out for certain reasons and, you know, guys step up. Our depth is our strength. Everybody scored, everybody had double-digit minutes, it’s great. That’s a sign of a really good team.”
Defense has been a large part of App State’s success, and played a key role in holding Georgia State off in the closing minutes. Myles Tate spoke on the conversation between Kerns and the players heading into the final stretch of the game.
“Coach Kerns always tells us ‘We’re gonna win the game on defense,’” Tate said. “We keep that in our mind as we go back on the floor and we try to get as many stops as we can. The offense is gonna come because we’ve got good players and we all can make plays. If we can just get stops down the stretch, offense will be easy.”
Kerns echoed that thought and gave credit to his players for shutting Georgia State down in the closing stretch.
“We feel like that’s our identity,” Kerns said. “We held a team that’s been scoring the ball really, really well, they shoot the ball really, really well.”
Despite Georgia State’s three-point shooting turnaround in the second half, App State was able to hold on for the victory. Kerns shared what he spoke to his team about down the stretch.
“One of the things we emphasize is next-play mentality,” Kerns said. “It’s basketball, things are gonna happen. You’re gonna throw the thing out of bounds a few times, you’re gonna miss some shots, but so is the other team. We told them ‘listen, they are gonna make threes, next play mentality. We can’t not play well the next possession because they just made a three.’ That’s one of their strengths, they really shoot the ball really, really well.”
As a team, App State shot 45% from the field, despite their below-average 27% mark from deep. The Mountaineers rode their 17 offensive boards to out-rebound the Panthers, 51-36. App State solidified their position as the third-best shot-blocking team in the country, swatting away seven Georgia State shots.
With the loss, Georgia State falls to 9-8 overall and 4-2 in the Sun Belt. The Panthers look to bounce back Saturday (Jan. 20) as they travel to Statesboro, GA for an in-state matchup with Georgia Southern. Tip-off is set for 3:00p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+.
Wednesday’s game marked the first of a four-game homestand for the 14-4 Mountaineers. Coastal Carolina will be the next to attempt to hand App State their first loss at the Holmes Convocation Center Saturday. The game will be the second of an App State basketball doubleheader with the women’s team, and will tip-off at 4:30p.m.. Both of Saturday’s App State matchups can be streamed on ESPN+.
