Mountaineers Return to the Holmes Center on Thursday Against Little Rock

BOONE, N.C. -- Appalachian State men's basketball will return to the Holmes Center on Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m., hosting Little Rock. The game will also be broadcast on ESPN3.

TICKETS
Tickets are still available for all remaining Appalachian State men's and women's home basketball games. Appalachian State basketball single game 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.). 

THE SERIES

• Little Rock holds a 6-2 edge in the series.
• The Trojans swept the season series last year, winning 76-68 in Boone and 69-62 in Little Rock.

LAST TIME OUT

• App State fell in the final seconds 81-79 at Troy on Monday evening.
• Ronshad Shabazz tallied a game-high 23 points, to go along with three assists and five assists. Justin Forrest added 15 points and Griffin Kinney recorded his first double-double of the season with 12 points and a career-high 12 rebounds.
• Off the bench, O'Showen Williams finished with 11 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals.
• The Black and Gold erased a 10-point deficit in the final 4:14 and tied the game at 79-79 with 9.1 seconds left on a layup by Forrest. Troy raced down the court and missed a shot, but grabbed the rebound and scored with 2.7 seconds to play. A desperation three-pointer by Williams from half court was no good giving Troy the win.

SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS

• Appalachian State stands at 8-13 on the season and is eighth in the Sun Belt with a 3-5 record.
• On offense, the Black and Gold feature six players averaging over 7.0 ppg, including their full starting five. Shabazz is tops on the team, averaging 19.1 ppg and if followed by Forrest, who is averaging 14.3 ppg. Kinney (9.2 ppg), Tyrell Johnson (7.5 ppg), Isaac Johnson (7.2 ppg) and Williams (7.1 ppg) are all also averaging over 7.0 ppg for the Mountaineers.
• In his past two games, Williams is averaging 11.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.5 steals off the bench.
• After his 23-point, five-assist performance on Monday, Shabazz has now posted six games this season in which he has scored at least 20 points and dished out five assists.
• App State continues to be strong shooting the three ball, leading the Sun Belt in total three-pointers made (201) and three-point field goals made per game (9.6).

SCOUTING THE TROJANS

• Little Rock enters play with a 5-15 overall record and sits in a tie for ninth place in the Sun Belt with a 2-5 mark.
• The Trojans fell to Arkansas State 70-62 on Saturday. Andre Jones had 11 points and nine rebounds, while Camron Reedus added 11 points in a reserve role.
• Jones leads the team in scoring at 12.1 ppg and is second in rebounding (4.7 rpg). Anthony Black is second on the team averaging 8.3 ppg, with Oliver Black averaging a team best 7.4 rpg.

SUITS AND SNEAKERS WEEK

• Appalachian State men's basketball will take part in multiple events during Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers week, which runs from January 22 to January 28.
• The Mountaineer coaching staff will be wearing sneakers with special gold laces for  Monday's game at Troy and both home contests on Thursday, January 25 against Little Rock and Saturday, January 27 versus Arkansas State in memory of 8-year old basketball fan Lacey Holsworth. In addition, specialty Coaches vs. Cancer ties will be created and sold online and through Vineyard Vines while supplies last.
• During the month of February, Sun Belt men's and women's basketball coaches are also set to participate in the Coaches vs. Cancer 3-Point Challenge. The conference and its member schools encourage fans, corporate partners and media to join the excitement by joining your favorite team to help raise funds for the American Cancer Society.

NEXT UP

• The Black and Gold will welcome Arkansas State to the Holmes Center on Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. contest. The game will also be broadcast on ESPN3.