JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - Kellen Brand knocked down a three-pointer to help Appalachian State University men's basketball erase a six-point second-half deficit, but East Tennessee State rallied back to take its season opener, 62-58, on Saturday at the Memorial Center.

Those points put Brand over the 1,000 mark for his career, and the senior went on to score eight in the game. The Mountaineers (1-1) were led by 14 points from Donald Sims, who sank all six of his free throw attempts on the night.

The Apps found themselves trailing by five points with eight minutes to play but pulled even and took a lead just two minutes later, thanks to a trey by Nathan Healy, followed by three free throws.

An Andre Williamson layup then extended the lead to three points at 53-50 with just under five minutes to play before ETSU rallied to take the lead for good. The comeback was fueled by seven-straight points over the next two minutes.

Down 57-53 with two-and-a-half to play, Ryann Abraham converted a three-point play to pull the Apps within one.

The next possession essentially decided the game, however, as Isaac Butts was whistled for an intentional foul while attempting to block a shot in the paint.

ETSU's Justin Tubbs sank both free throws to give the Bucs another three-point advantage in the final minute, as well as another
possession.

Brand gave the Mountaineers one final chance in the game as he swiped a steal with 30 seconds on the clock. He converted a fast break layup to bring the score to 59-58, but the home squad sank three of its final four foul shots to ice the game.

Butts grabbed six first-half rebounds and led the squad in rebounds for a second-straight game with 12. The big man also swatted three of Appalachian's four blocks.

In just his second collegiate contest, Healy was the team's second-leading scorer with 10 points on 2-of-3 shooting and 5-of-6 free throws.

The Apps shot 40.9 percent from the field as the lead changed hands nine times. Neither team led by more than six points in the game and turnovers handcuffed the ASU offense, as the squad turned the ball over 25 times compared to ETSU's 20.

Tubbs was one of three Buccaneers in double figures, as Adam Solazzo led the squad with 13 off the bench.

The Mountaineers return home on Tuesday to host Lees-McRae at 7 p.m.