BOONE, N.C. - Omar Carter scored a game-high 22 points and Andre Williamson recorded his second double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds to lead Appalachian State University men's basketball to a 79-71 victory over visiting Elon on Monday evening at the Holmes Center.

Appalachian (8-9, 4-3 SoCon) never trailed in the ballgame and closed out a grueling three-games-in-five-days stretch by rebounding from back-to-back one-point losses to UNC Greensboro and Western Carolina.

Carter hit 10-of-15 shots from the field and Williamson made all seven shots that he attempted (5-of-5 from the field and 2-of-2 from the free-throw line) to pace the Mountaineers, who moved to 5-1 at home this season.

As a team, ASU shot 52.8 percent (28-of-53) and out-rebounded Elon (8-10, 2-5 SoCon), 43-33. The Phoenix stayed in the game by making 10 -of-28 three-pointers, compared to five out of 15 for the Apps.

The Mountaineers earned a 37-34 advantage at the intermission thanks in part to an 11-of-12 mark at the foul line and Carters' 5-of-7 shooting, good for 11 points  before the break.

Early in the second half, ASU opened its lead to nine points before the Phoenix began to threaten. Chris Long led four Elon players in double figures with 15 points and 10 rebounds as the visitors got as close as three points on to occasions.

Lucas Troutman scored two of his 13 points on a jumper in the pain with 7:37 remaining to pull his squad back within five points, but ASU responded with nine-straight points and did not led Elon any closer than six points the remainder of the night.

The Mountaineers sank 5-of-7 free throws in the final two and a half minutes to protect a 74-65 lead and ice the game.

Troutman sank 6-of-10 shots off the bench and added four rebounds while Drew Spradlin was Elon's leader on the glass with five boards. Spradlin added 14 points, two steals and a pair of assists for the Phoenix.

Donald Sims had a quiet night by his standards, with 12 points on 3-of-13 shooting and 4-of-4 free throws on the night. He added three assists and two steals.

Jeremi Booth sank 4-of-6 shots for 12 points off the bench while Anthony Breeze provided a spark with six points and four rebounds in just nine minutes of action.

Petey Hausley and Marcus Wright added 6-and-4 of their own in the contest as well.

ASU scored 34 points in the paint compared to Elon's 26. The Apps turned the ball over 16 times, six more than Elon. It snapped a string of four-straight games in which ASU had a positive turnover ratio.

Notes: Sims was held scoreless in the first half for the first time since ASU defeated Georgia Southern in the 2009 Southern Conference Tournament opening round … Sims' previous first-half low this season was five points (two times) … Breeze returned to the court after missing ASU's last two games with an illness … Williamson's 12 rebounds are the most by an ASU player this season ... Appalachian moved back above .500 in SoCon play with the win and has now faced all five North division foes once this season.