As has become a summer tradition, appstatesports.com is counting down Appalachian State University athletics' 30 most memorable games, matches and meets from the 2015-16 academic year. This year's countdown begins on Tuesday, July 5 and will continue until Tuesday, August 2.
Be sure to check appstatesports.com each day to relive all of the Mountaineers' most lasting memories of an exciting and successful 2015-16.
Mountaineers Keep Sun Belt Tournament Hopes Alive
March 3, 2016
BOONE, N.C. -- Behind 22 points from freshman Ronshad Shabazz, Appalachian State University men's basketball recorded one of its biggest wins in recent history, a 69-63 triumph over first-place Little Rock on Thursday evening at the Holmes Center.
With the victory over Little Rock (27-4, 17-3 Sun Belt, No. 35 RPI), Appalachian State kept its hopes for a berth in next week's Sun Belt Conference Tournament alive. The Mountaineers (8-22, 6-13 Sun Belt) will earn a spot in the eight-team Sun Belt Tourney field with a win over Arkansas State (11-19, 7-12 Sun Belt) on Saturday at the Holmes Center and a loss by Texas State on Thursday night at Troy or Saturday at South Alabama.
In a game that featured five ties, seven lead changes and neither team ever holding more than a seven-point advantage, Appalachian State took the lead for good on a free throw by Jake Babic with 4:22 left in the ballgame.
However, it was senior Frank Eaves that made perhaps the biggest play of the season for the Mountaineers when he converted an old-fashioned three-point play that gave Appalachian a 64-60 lead with 1:06 to go.
From there, Shabazz capped his 22-point night with layup with 44 seconds left and the Mountaineers made 3-of-4 free throws down the stretch to finish off the upset victory. Babic finished with a season-high 10 points on 3-for-6 shooting, all three pointers.
App State held a 27-21 lead in the first half, but a 7-0 run from the Trojans led to both teams being tied heading into the locker room at 30-30.
In the second half, App State held a three point lead at 46-43 but another 7-0 run from the Trojans gave Little Rock a 50-46 lead with 6:53 left to play. The Black and Gold countered with 10-3 run to take a 56-53 lead. With a 50-49 lead for Little Rock, Bennett Holley hit a baseline jumper over the backboard right before the shot clock expired to give the Mountaineers a 51-50 lead and huge momentum.
With just a one point advantage at 61-60, Eaves hit a tough bankshot to finish an and-one and give the Mountaineers a 64-60 lead. App State would push the lead to five at 67-62 and sealed the win with two free throws from Emarius Logan.
The Mountaineers will finish the regular season on Saturday against Arkansas State with an opportunity to go to New Orleans for the Sun Belt tournament. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m.
Appalachian State Athletics' Most Memorable Moments of 2015-16
No. 30: Women's Tennis 4, Georgia Southern 2 (April 20, 2016)
No. 29: App State Knocks Off No. 24 Duke (December 15, 2015)
No. 28: Another 8-7 Walkoff Win Clinches Series Victory (April 4, 2016)
No. 27: Apps Catch Fire in Resilient Win (January 28, 2016)
No. 26: Mountaineers Receive Votes for AP Top 25 (October 15, 2015)
No. 25: Men's Tennis Ousts Troy, Advances to SBC Semis (April 22, 2016)
No. 24: Apps Down GSU with Clutch Plays in Late Moments (Feb. 27, 2016)
No. 23: Frank Eaves Nets 1,000 Career points in 76-67 Win over GSU (Jan. 21, 2015)
No. 22: Jalin Moore Breaks Freshman Rushing Record in 47-20 Win (Nov. 14, 2015)
No. 21: Van Ord Leads App State with 10,000-Meter Win - Sun Belt Champ (May 13, 2016)
No. 20: Broaden Claims Sun Belt Title in 400-Meter Hurdles - Sun Belt Champ (May 13, 2016)
No. 19: Moriarty Cards Career-Low 65; Ties Program Record (March 7, 2016)
No. 18: Pepper Butler Graduates During Special Ceremony (March 19, 2016)
No. 17: Mountaineers Down NJIT, Advance to SBC Semifinal (Nov. 12, 2015)
No. 16: Women's Golf Wins Mimosa Hills Intercollegiate (April 4, 2016)
No. 15: Men's and Women's XC Take Home Second at SBC Championships (November 1, 2015)
No. 14: Dawson Secures First Win as Head Coach (August 30, 2015)
No. 13: Mountaineers Walk Past No. 23 South Alabama, 4-3 (April 15, 2016)
No. 12: Apps Down Little Rock, Advance to Semi-Final Match (November 4, 2015)
No. 11: Denzel Dejournette Wins SoCon Wrestler of the Year (March 2, 2016)
No. 10: Keller Named Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year (November 19, 2015)
No. 9: Blair Headlines 13 All-Sun Belt Honorees (December 9, 2015)
No. 8: Gorham Throws Gem in Game Two vs. UL Lafayette (May 7, 2016)
No. 7: Mountaineers Belt Ga. Southern, End Eagles' Streak (October 22, 2015)
No. 6: Volleyball Sweeps into SBC Title Match (November 21, 2015)
No. 5: Men's Basketball Downs No. 35 RPI Little Rock (March 3, 2016)
