Kinney Pours in Career-High 28 Points in Mountaineer Loss at Akron

AKRON, Ohio -- Senior Griffin Kinney (Delaware, Ohio/Fork Union Military Academy) scored a career-high 28 points, but the Appalachian State men's basketball team dropped a 94-89 decision at Akron on Saturday evening.

Kinney finished 9-of-13 (69.2 percent) from the field and went 9-of-11 (81.8 percent) from the free throw line. His nine made field goals mark a new career-best and his nine free throws are a season-high. He also pulled down six rebounds and dished out two assists.

Junior Ronshad Shabazz (Raleigh, N.C./Huntington Prep) also had 28 points on 10-of-19 (52.6 percent) shooting. He also pulled down four rebounds and tied his season-high in assists with five.

Freshman Justin Forrest (Decatur, Ga./Greenforest McCalep Christian Academy) had 13 points and a career-high tying five assists. Junior Tyrell Johnson (Atlanta, Ga./Stephenson) chipped in with seven points, seven rebounds and a career-high five blocks.

Appalachian State (5-6) got off to a fast start, using an early 7-0 run, capped off by a thunderous dunk by Kinney on the break, to build an early 12-4 lead. But Akron (5-2) came right back with the next eight points to tie the game at 12-12.

The Zips would build a 33-26 lead later in the half, before the Mountaineers countered with five consecutive points to pull within two points at 33-31. Akron would slowly pull away and took a 47-38 lead into the intermission.
 
In the second half, App State would use an early 6-0 run to trim the Zips lead to just three points at 51-48 with just under 16 minutes to play.
 
The Zips would push their lead back to 59-51, before the Black and Gold used a 9-1 run to cut the Akron lead to 61-60 with 11:45 left to play. Moments later, the Black and Gold jumped in front 66-64 on a dunk by Kinney.
 
The Mountaineers were able to open a 73-68 lead thanks to two free throws from Kinney. But Akron came right back with an 8-0 run to retake the lead at 76-73 with 5:17 left to play.
 
Appalachian answered right back with four straight points to open a 77-76 advantage with 4:32 remaining.
 
The Zips would score the next seven points to take an 83-77 lead with 2:25 to go.
 
After two free throws from Shabazz, Akron would score the next five points to build a nine-point lead. A three-pointer from Tyrell Johnson and a free throw from Kinney pulled the Mountaineers within five points at 88-83 with 42 seconds to play.
 
The Zips would split a pair of three throws and Shabazz drained a three with 22 seconds left to bring the Apps within three points at 89-86.
 
From there, Akron would knock down a pair of free throws to expand its lead to 91-86.
 
Kinney knocked down a trey with three seconds to trim the Akron lead to 91-89. The Mountaineers would foul and Virshon Cotton of Akron split a pair of free throws to make the score 92-89.
 
The Mountaineers full court pass on the ensuing inbound was stolen and the Zips hit a pair of free throws to put the game away.

Appalachian State went 32-of-64 (50.0 percent) from the field, while Akron shot 34-of-60 (56.7 percent). The Black and Gold committed a season low five turnovers and forced Akron into 13 turnovers, scoring 17 points off of the 13 miscues.

Malcolm Duvivier paced Akron with 24 points and three assists. Daniel Utomi posted a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
 
The Mountaineers will return to action on December 16 with a return trip to Ohio to face Ohio State. Tip is set for 6 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.