Mountaineers to Battle Iowa State in Opening Round of Puerto Rico Tip-Off at Myrtle Beach

CONWAY, S.C. -- Appalachian State men's basketball open play at the Puerto Rico TIp-Off at Myrtle Beach against Iowa State at 5:30 p.m. at the HTC Center on the campus of Coastal Carolina. The game will be broadcast on ESPU.

THE SERIES

• This is the first ever meeting between the two schools.

SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS

• Appalachian State is off to a 2-0 start for the first time since the 2010-11 season.
• On Sunday, the Mountaineers topped Bridgewater 95-57 inside the Holmes Center.
• Three players reached double figures for the Black and Gold, led by junior Ronshad Shabazz, who finished with a season-best 25 points, to go along with four assists and a career-high tying three steals.
• Junior Tyrell Johnson added 20 points and seven rebounds, while freshman O'Showen Williams posted new career-bests in points (17), rebounds (4) and steals (6). Junior Jake Wilson also registered double digit rebounds for the second straight game, pulling down 10.
• On the season, Shabazz leads the team in scoring, averaging 24.5 ppg on 62.5 percent (15-of-24) shooting.
• Tyrell Johnson is averaging 17.0 points and 6.5 rebounds through the first two games, while Williams is also averaging double figure scoring at 10.5 ppg.
• In all, 10 Mountaineers are shooting 50 percent or better from the field through the first two contests.

SCOUTING THE CYCLONES

• Iowa State enters with an 0-2 mark on the season after falling to Milwaukee at home on Monday evening 74-56.
• Nick Weiler-Babb and Jeff Beverly each tallied 11 points for the Cyclones in the loss.
• Weiler-Babb is one of five Big 12 players averaging 12.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists this season.

NEXT UP

• App State will take on either Western Michigan or Tulsa on Friday evening in the second game of the tournament. Tip-off will be at either 5 p.m. or 7 p.m. based on the Mountaineers outcome on Thursday. The contest will be broadcast on ESPNU.