By Zach Smith. BOONE, N.C. – A snowy afternoon in Boone didn’t stop the High Country community from making their way to Holmes Convocation Center for App State’s conference opener Dec. 30. Paid attendance of 2,065 fans witnessed the Mountaineers open their 2023-24 conference schedule with a win over ULM, 67-55.
Of the seven Mountaineers to see action, four players recorded double-digit points. Veteran forward Donovan Gregory posted a game-high 17 points, while junior forward Tre’Von Spillers finished one rebound shy of his fifth double-double of the season. Spillers netted 16 to go along with his team-best nine rebounds. Sophomore forward Justin Abson (13 points) and junior guard Terence Harcum (10 points) rounded out App State’s top scorers.
For ULM, senior forward Nika Metskhvarishvili led the way with 16 points and nine rebounds. Sophomore guard Jacob Wilson posted 10 points while individually shooting at a 50 percent clip.
Neither team was able to pull away over the first four minutes as the Warhawks took a 9-7 lead into the first media break. App State came out of the timeout on a tear, negating a Metskhvarishvili three-pointer with three straight makes from beyond the arc enroute to a 14-2 run. The Mountaineers used that run, as well as a 12-4 stretch later in the half to take a 39-32 lead into halftime.
The second half started as well as it could have for App State, scoring the first six points of the period. That success didn’t last long, though, as ULM went on a 15-3 run to take their first lead since the 14:41 mark of the first half. The Mountaineers weren’t fazed by the Warhawks’ new-found scoring success and poured in the next eight consecutive points to take a 57-49 lead. App State never lost the lead again, thanks in large part to their stifling defense. The Mountaineers held ULM to just five more points, none of which came in the final 4:03 to play.
App State head coach Dustin Kerns shared his thoughts on the matchup postgame.
“We found another way to win,” Kerns said. “We did not particularly shoot it great, but we found a way to win.”
Following the conference opener, App State will travel to each of their next four Sun Belt games. Kerns expressed how important the win over ULM was entering a brutal schedule over the next two weeks.
“It’s fun to be back at home,” Kerns said. “This is our first home game since Dec. 5th. Now we gotta go on the road again for four straight, you know, which will be challenging, especially in this league. To get win number one at home, win number one of the Sun Belt is a big deal especially with a couple of key players out.”
The Mountaineers were without guards Xavion Brown (injury) and Jordan Marsh (personal) against the Warhawks. Kerns gave credit to the players who stepped up in Brown’s and Marsh’s absence.
“I thought Donovan Gregory made winning plays, Tre’Von Spillers made some winning plays,” Kerns said. “I also thought everybody contributed. Even though CJ Huntley and Chris Mantis maybe didn’t make a shot, just them being out there, their ability to shoot and stretch the floor.”
As for when Brown and Marsh are expected to return, Kerns shared some updates.
“We will get those guys back,” Kerns said. “Jordan [Marsh] is gonna be back tomorrow, Xavion [Brown] is still day-to-day, but really improving.”
As a team, App State shot 42 percent, compared to ULM’s 37 percent mark. The Mountaineers’ three-point shooting struggled, though, as they made just four of their 27 tries from distance. ULM shot 36% from beyond the arc. App State outscored the Warhawks in the paint, 38-32, but ULM out-rebounded the Mountaineers, 42-40.
With the loss, ULM is on a four-game skid, each of those on the road. The Warhawks fall to 4-7, but will enjoy a four-game homestand starting with a matchup against Marshall Wednesday (Jan. 3). Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+.
App State’s victory propels the Mountaineers to 10-3, their first time reaching the 10-win mark before the new year since the 2006-07 season, when they posted 11 wins before January. App State begins their four-game road trip at South Alabama on Jan. 4. Tip-off will be at 8:00p.m. and can also be streamed on ESPN+.
