BOONE, N.C. - Jeremi Booth outscored Winthrop 13-6 over the first five and a half minutes and finished the game with a season-best 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting as Appalachian State University men's basketball defeated Winthrop, 70-51, Monday night at the Holmes Center.

The Mountaineers (4-3) built a 17-point lead at the half after holding the Eagles (2-3) to 5-of-26 shooting before the intermission.

After scoring ASU's first 13 points, Booth yielded to fellow juniors Isaac Butts and Donald Sims, as the trio matched Winthrop's 51 points on the night.

Butts recorded his second-straight double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. The big man shot 6-for-9 from the field, sank all three free throw attempts and added three of the team's 17 assists.

Sims started slow, missing each of his four first-half field goal attempts, but finished with 16 points. The guard was a perfect 9-of-9 from the free throw line and led the Apps with five assists and three steals.

Andre Williamson made his first career start in the place of Josh Hunter, and pulled down a season-best 10 rebounds to go along with four points ­on 2-of-3 shooting, three assists and ASU's lone block.

Kellen Brand battled foul trouble throughout the night and finished with an assist, a rebound and a steal in 15 minutes. The senior was 0-for-2 from the field and did not score a point for the first time since 2007-08 against Wichita State, a span of 60 games.

No WU player reached double figures in scoring, as Justin Burton and George Valentine tied for the team lead with seven points each.

Appalachian struggled with holding onto the ball early and committed 15 first-half turnovers. The Mountaineers tightened the offense in the second half and finished the game with 24. Thirteen turnovers resulted in WU steals, while the Apps swiped the ball away eight times.

The Mountaineers also held an advantage in rebounding for the sixth time in seven games this year, pulling in 36 boards compared to 27 for the visitors. ASU also had its finest performance of the season from the charity stripe, sinking 14-of-16 attempts for 87.5 percent.

Appalachian looks to remain perfect at home as it opens Southern Conference play when Furman (4-1) visits the High Country on Thursday at 7 p.m.