Box Score BOONE, N.C. – An anemic offensive performance in the first half put Appalachian State University men's basketball in an early hole that it was never able to climb out of as it lost its fifth-straight game, 77-58, to visiting Sun Belt Conference rival Georgia Southern on Thursday night at the Holmes Center.

The Mountaineers (9-17, 6-11 Sun Belt) shot just 32.0 percent (8-of-25) in the opening period as the Eagles (20-6, 13-4) raced out to a 20-2 lead in the first 10 minutes to remain in a first-place tie atop the conference standings.

In the process, Georgia Southern swept the two-game season series against Appalachian for the first time in 22 years (1992-93) and snapped a seven-game losing streak in Boone.

The Eagles scored the first five points of the game before Tommy Spagnolo put the Mountaineers on the board with a dunk at the 16:55 mark. After that, Georgia Southern responded with a 15-0 run to put the game out of reach early as Appalachian went more than six minutes without a made bucket.

Jake Babic put an end to the drought when he nailed a three-point shot with 10:34 to go in the opening period, but the Mountaineers were never really able to swing momentum in their favor.

Appalachian State was able to cut into the deficit before the half by making it a 29-20 ballgame on a Dustin Clarke layup in transition with 2:41 on the clock, but Georgia Southern scored seven unanswered points to close the half and take a 36-20 lead into the locker room.

On the opening possession of the second half, Jake Allsmiller drilled a shot from beyond the arc to put the Eagles back up by 19 (39-20) and the Mountaineers were never able to get closer than 14 the rest of the way as Georgia Southern increased its lead to as many as 24 points in the last half of action.

Frank Eaves paced Appalachian State with a game-high-tying 15 points while Clarke scored eight off the bench. Jacob Lawson finished with seven points and a team-high four rebounds.

The Eagles were led by Matias Angel's 15 points and six rebounds while Trent Wiedeman chipped in with 12 points. Jelani Hewitt dished out a game-high five assists but was held to just seven points, more than 11 below his average, on just 3-of-11 shooting.

Georgia Southern shot 48.3 percent (28-of-58) from the floor, including 17-of-24 from the free-throw line, and pulled down 38 rebounds to Appalachian State's 26. The Mountaineers connected on 40.0 percent (20-of-50) from the floor, but went just 6-of-22 from beyond the arc. The Mountaineers committed 13 turnovers to the Eagles' seven and finished with 11 total assists while Georgia Southern dished out 14.

The road does not get any easier for Appalachian as it hosts Sun Belt co-leader UL Monroe on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in the second game of a season-ending, four-game homestand.

NOTES: Appalachian State fell to 25-19 all-time against Georgia Southern ... prior to Thursday, the Eagles' last win in Boone came on Feb. 2, 2004 (81-77) ... Thursday's game was the 199th men's basketball game to be played at the Holmes Center since the building opened in 2000 ... Appalachian is 131-68 all-time in the building, including 75-52 in conference play ... the Mountaineer bench eclipsed the 20-point mark for the 14th time this season and the 11th time in Sun Belt play ... 13 different players saw time on the floor for App State on Thursday ... Appalachian was outscored 44-22 in the paint and 17-5 off turnovers.