CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Mountaineers cut a 17-point deficit to just five points but were unable to complete the comeback as College of Charleston got the best of Appalachian State University men's basketball, 88-80, on Wednesday evening.

It didn't take long for either team to show off its high-powered offense as the teams opened with short runs to inflate the score to 14-11 in favor of the home team just five minutes into the contest.

Donald Sims led five Mountaineers in double-figure scoring with 15 points while Andrew Goudelock scored 14 first-half points for CofC and finished the game with a career-high 33.

College of Charleston (15-3, 7-1 SoCon) increased the lead to as many as 17 points before the Mountaineers powered back towards the end of the half to cut the score to 46-37 at the intermission as Ryann Abraham tipped in a missed shot at the buzzer.

Sims played a large role in cutting down the deficit towards the end of the frame as five of his team-best 10 first-half points came in the final 90 seconds of the period.

The three-pointers kept falling for the Cougars as the second half opened, as five of the squad's first nine buckets of the period came from beyond the arc. CofC finished the game 11-of-21 from downtown while the Apps connected on just 6-of-20.

Seven-straight points from Eduardo Bermudez kept the Apps in the game, however, as two free throws brought the Mountaineers to within nine at 64-55 with 12 minutes remaining in the half.

A Sims three-pointer cut the deficit to 75-68 with four minutes to play before Tyler Webb converted his second three-point play of the half to pull within six at 77-71.

Goudelock then sank his 12th bucket of the game before Bermudez found the bottom of the net from the corner to make the score 79-74 as the clock reached the one-minute mark.

Appalachian (6-10, 3-5) was forced to foul and the Cougars made each of their first six free throws. ASU was fouled twice and converted their four attempts as well to keep the game within reach. Bermudez connected for a field goal with 10 seconds left but it was not enough as Charleston wrapped up an 88-80 triumph.

The Mountaineers shot 44.8 percent from the floor in the game compared to 55.6 percent for the Cougars. The teams tied in rebounds with 32 each while ASU held a 9-8 advantage in steals in the contest.

Donterious Hughes made his first-career start for the Apps and pitched in four points, a pair of steals and a rebound.

Bermudez totaled 14 points off the bench on 4-of-6 shooting with six rebounds and four of ASU's 10 assists. Kellen Brand and Josh Hunter each scored 13 points while Hunter matched Bermudez and Isaac Butts with six boards. Butts battled foul trouble but scored 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting in the game.

The Mountaineers return home on Saturday to host Western Carolina at 5 p.m.