Mountaineers Set to Tip-Off 2017-18 Season against Toccoa Falls

BOONE, N.C. -- Appalachian State men's basketball will get the 2017-18 season underway by hosting Toccoa Falls in the Holmes Center on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The contest will be aired on ESPN3.

TICKETS

The Mountaineers are running a 2 for $20 special for each game on the weekend, where fans can purchase two tickets for a total of $20 or a pair of youth tickets for a total of $10. If interested, please contact the App State ticket office by phone at 828-262-2079 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and use the promo code "2for20". Fans can also purchase tickets online using the promo code "2for20" for Saturday's contest against Toccoa Falls by clicking here and for Sunday's game versus Bridgewater by clicking here.

Fans can still purchase a 2017-18 Appalachian State basketball season ticket, which reserves a seat for all 26 regular-season games at the Holmes Center (13 men's, 13 women's), costs just $175 for courtside. Non-courtside season tickets are $100 for adults, $80 for senior citizens (ages 60 ) and Appalachian State faculty/staff and $50 for youth (ages 3-12). Appalachian State basketball season tickets can be purchased online by clicking here, by phone at (828) 262-2079 or in person at the Appalachian State athletics ticket office, located at the Holmes Center (Monday - Friday; 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.). 

SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS

• App State welcomes back 12 players from last season, including three starters.
• Of the 12 returners, App State sees three starters back in senior Griffin Kinney, junior Tyrell Johnson and junior Ronshad Shabazz.
• Kinney posted his strongest season as a member of the Black and Gold in 2016-17, averaging career-highs in points (9.8), rebounds (6.3) and field goal percentage (51.5 percent).
• Tyrell Johnson averaged a career-high 7.5 points last season and also led the team with 33 blocks.
• Shabazz returns after earning Third Team All-Sun Belt Conference honors in 2016-17. He averaged a team-best 16.7 ppg, while pulling down 3.5 rpg and posting 23 steals. He was also named Preseason Second Team-All Sun Belt.
• The Mountaineers posted a 126-71 victory over Warren Wilson in an exhibition on Tuesday evening. Appalachian pulled down 71 rebounds, 24 of which were offensive, in the win.
• Overall, seven Mountaineers reached double figures in the victory for App State. Shabazz paced the Black and Gold with 23 points, while sophomore O'Showen Williams and freshman Justin Forrest each had 15 off the bench. Junior Bennett Holley and Tyrell Johnson each scored 13 points, junior Kevin Kerley finished with 11 points and sophomore Zach Cottrell tallied 10 points.

SCOUTING THE SCREAMING EAGLES

• Toccoa Falls enters with an 0-3 record on the season.
• In those three games, the Screaming Eagles are averaging 80.3 points.
• Junior Kevin Cave and sophomore Nick Hayes are each averaging double figures. Cave is pouring in 14.3 ppg, while Cave is averaging 12.3 ppg. 

NEXT UP

• The Mountaineers will have a quick turnaround, hosting Bridgewater at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday in the Holmes Center. The contest is also a non-bracket game as part of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off at Myrtle Beach.
• App State will take on Iowa State in Conway S.C. on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in the first of three bracketed games at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off at Myrtle Beach.