BOONE, N.C. -- Appalachian State University men's basketball cut a 15-point second-half deficit to five but couldn't get over the hump in a 59-50 loss to Arkansas State on Thursday evening at the Holmes Center.

Appalachian State (4-10, 1-4 Sun Belt) trailed 48-33 with 12 minutes to go in the ballgame but cut the deficit to 53-48 with just under four minutes remaining on Jake Babic's transition three-pointer, which capped a 15-5 Mountaineer run.

The Mountaineers and Red Wolves (7-8, 2-4) traded baskets to make it 55-50 with less than three minutes left on the clock but App State missed its final its final six shots, including two pivotal free-throw attempts by Frank Eaves with 50 seconds to go, while Arkansas State made 4-of-7 foul shots the stretch to seal the victory.

Cold shooting was the primary culprit in Appalachian State's fourth-straight defeat. The Mountaineers shot a season-low 29.3 percent (17-of-58), including just 25.7 percent (9-of-35) in the first half. App State, a 70.7-percent free-throw shooting team coming in, also made just 12-of-21 attempts from the charity stripe (57.1 percent).

Appalachian started off the contest strong, racing out to an 8-2 advantage with 15:08 to play in the first half. The Red Wolves were able to regain momentum with a 12-5 run over the next four minutes to grab a 14-13 lead on PJ Hardwick's free throw with 11:09 in the opening period.

Arkansas State would extend the lead to five points (18-13) one minute later, but the Mountaineers reeled off an 8-0 run to grab a 21-18 lead with 6:51 on the clock. Cameron' Golden's three pointer with 2:05 left would finish out the scoring in the first half and give Arkansas State a 29-27 halftime lead.

Eaves led Appalachian State with 13 points on 4-of-12 shooting. Tommy Spagnolo added 10 points and 12 rebounds, good for his fifth double-double of the season.

Golden led all scorers with 20 points. He was joined in double-figures by A-State teammates Anthony Livingston, who scored 13 points and pulled down 12 rebounds, and Hardwick, who nearly had a triple-double with 11 points, eight rebounds and nine assists.

The Mountaineers have a quick turnaround as they play host to preseason conference favorite Georgia State on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

NOTES: Appalachian State fell to 2-2 all-time against Arkansas State ... the Red Wolves were able to tie the series 1-1 when facing the Apps in Boone ... the App State bench poured in 19 points, snapping a streak of four-straight games with at least 21 points ... Spagnolo's double-double was his fifth of the season and 13th of his career ... he has scored in double figures in nine games this season and 19 in his career ... all of his double-digit scoring efforts have come in his last 27 career games ... Eaves hit double figures for the 11th time this year and 19th time in his career.