BOONE, N.C. -- Junior
Ronshad Shabazz (Raleigh, N.C./Huntington Prep) scored 25 points and junior
Tyrell Johnson (Atlanta, Ga./Stephenson) added 20 to lead Appalachian State men's basketball past Bridgewater 95-57 in a non-bracket game of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off at Myrtle Beach on Sunday inside the Holmes Center.
The Mountaineers stand at 2-0 on the season, marking the first time they opened the season 2-0 since 2010-11.
Shabazz tallied his second straight 20-point performance, after scoring 24 in Saturday's win over Toccoa Falls. He finished 7-of-11 (63.6 percent) from the field, while dishing out four assists and recording a career-high tying three steals.
Johnson knocked down 8-of-9 (88.9 percent) of his free throws and also pulled down seven rebounds in the win.
Off the bench, freshman
O'Showen Williams (Macon, Ga./Stratford Academy) posted career-bests in points (17), rebounds (4) and steals (6).
The Mountaineers scored the first seven points of the game to jump out to an early 7-0 lead. App State used an 8-0 run minutes later to expand its lead to 15-6 with just under 14 minutes in the opening half.
A 10-0 run by Appalachian pushed its lead to 39-16 with just over three minutes left in the first half. App State took a 41-21 advantage into the break.
In the second half, the Mountaineers would continue to expand their lead and used a 9-0 spurt over a 2:52 span to build an 81-42 lead with 5:36 remaining and put the game away.
The Black and Gold defense was tough for the second straight game, limiting the Eagles (0-1) to 31.1 percent (19-of-61) shooting and forcing 25 turnovers.
Appalachian also held a 54-36 edge in the rebounding battle.
The Mountaineers will be back at it on Thursday, as they open the bracket portion of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off at Myrtle Beach. Appalachian will take on Iowa State at 5:30 p.m. on ESPNU.
