Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Frank Eaves matched his career high with 31 points - finishing 11-for-22 from the field and a gaudy 7-of-15 from three-point range, but it wouldn't be enough as Appalachian State University men's basketball fell to Mercer in heartbreaking fashion 71-70 on Friday evening.

THe Mountaineers (2-4) were led by Eaves' 31, while Chris Burgess chipped in 12 points - all in the second half - and converted on four triples on 4-of-8 shooting and 4-of-7 from long range. Tyrell Johnson also finished in double-figures with a career-high 11 points, including tying for the team-lead with five boards.

Appalachian State made a season-high 13 three-pointers on 29 attempts, while also tying its season high with 24 field goals on the afternoon. The Apps shot a season-best 46.2 percent from the floor, including a season-best 44.8 percent from distance. Despite being outrebounded 30-27, App State outscored Mercer in second-chance points 14-6 .

The Bears (5-1) jumped out to a 14-8 lead in the opening 6:31 of the game. Beginning with a Jacob Lawson layup, App State put together a 13-2 run spanning 4:21 to take a 20-16 lead with 8:39 to go in the opening half. With Mercer closing the gap to 20-19, Appalachian built another 8-0 run for its biggest lead of the game at 28-19.

However, Mercer would come roaring back and score nine-straight points in 1:57 to knot the score at 28-28. A late Eaves three put the Apps up 31-28, but four unanswered points from the Bears gave Mercer a 32-31 halftime lead.

Out of the break, Eaves poured in back-to-back triples to put App State back in front 37-32. Following a Mercer jumper, App State used a layup from Griffin Kinney and Burgess' first three-pointer of the game to open up a 42-34 advantage at the 16:35 mark.

Again, Mercer put together an 8-0 run to tie the game again at 42-42. Going back and forth, Mercer would build a four point lead at 48-44 with 11:46 to go in the game. On the following possession, Johnson would take contact and make a layup while drawing the foul. Johnson missed the foul shot, but a big offensive board by Jake Babic led to another Eaves three-pointer to put App State ahead 49-48.

Both buckets keyed a 10-0 run for the Mountaineers that gave the Apps a 54-48 lead. Over the next 2:38, Mercer would score six-straight points to knot the score again at 54-54. Appalachian kept finding buckets to stave off the Bears and two Burgess threes sandwiched a Mercer jumper to give App State a 60-56 lead.

The Black and Gold would go up by six points following an Eaves jumper, but the Bears clawed back to within one point at 62-61. Burgess drilled a three-pointer to go up by four and the Apps would eventually extend their lead to five at 67-62. However, Mercer would answer as they had all game long and convert a jumper and a and-one opportunity to tie it again at 67-67 with 2:00 left in regulation.

Ronshad Shabazz drilled a highly contested three-pointer on the nearside wing with 41 seconds left in the game to go up 70-67.

After two missed free throws from Burgess, a quick layup from the Bears cut the App State lead to one at 70-69. Two more missed free throws from Eaves led to another quick layup that gave Mercer a 71-70 lead. A last second heave from Burgess didn't draw rim.

Appalachian State will return to action on Sunday, Nov. 29 when it closes out the 2015 Challenge in Music City against Stephen F. Austin at 4:30 p.m. EST.