BOONE, N.C. -- The Appalachian State men's basketball team will host South Alabama at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday inside the Holmes Center. The Mountaineers enter play just a half game behind the Jaguars in the Sun Belt.
TICKETS
Tickets are still available for all remaining Appalachian State men's and women's home basketball games. Appalachian State basketball single game tickets can be purchased online by clicking
here, by phone at
(828) 262-2079 or in person at the Appalachian State athletics ticket office, located at the Holmes Center (Monday - Friday; 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.).
THE SERIES
- This is the seventh all-time meeting between the two schools, with the Jaguars holding a 5-1 edge.
- South Alabama has won the last four meetings, including the previous meeting this season in Mobile on January 20 by a 83-77 score.
EARLIER THIS SEASON
- These two teams faced off in Mobile on January 20 with the Jaguars prevailing 83-77.
- Five Mountaineers reached double figures in the contest. Justin Forrest had 15 points and Griffin Kinney added 14 on 6-of-9 (66.7 percent) shooting. Off the bench, Craig Hinton had 13 points and six rebounds, while O'Showen Williams tallied 12 points, three rebounds and three assists. Tyrell Johnson chipped in with 10 points.
- App State built an eight-point first half lead and took a 45-40 advantage into the half. In the second half, the Jaguars took the look thanks to a 10-0 run. With the game tied at 77-77 late, South Alabama was able force a few Mountaineer turnovers and scored the final six points of the game for the win.
LAST TIME OUT
- The Black and Gold recorded an 81-66 win at Coastal Carolina on Saturday. The Mountaineers forced the Chanticleers into 19 turnovers outscored Coastal Carolina 49-33 in the second half.
- O'Showen Williams tallied a career-high 20 points, while Ronshad Shabazz added 19 points and a career-high tying three steals. Griffin Kinney also added reached double figures with 14 points.
- After seeing Coastal Carolina take a 33-32 lead into the locker room, App State used a 7-0 run midway through the second half to take a 52-46 lead. The Mountaineers never trailed from there and went on a late 10-0 run to pull away for the victory.
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS
- Appalachian has won two straight and stands at 11-15 on the season with a 6-7 mark in Sun Belt play. Their record places them in eighth place and is just a half game behind both Troy and South Alabama for sixth and a game behind Georgia Southern, UT Arlington and Texas State for third.
- In Sun Belt play this season, O'Showen Williams is averaging 9.2 points on 42.9 percent (24-of-56) shooting on three-pointers.
- Ronshad Shabazz has now scored 503 points on the season. It is the 21st time in program history that a player has reached 500 points in a season. He currently leads the team in scoring at 19.3 ppg, which is also third in the Sun Belt.
- Over his last seven games, Griffin Kinney is averaging 12.0 points on 28-of-49 (57.1 percent) shooting and a 28-of-33 (84.8 percent) clip at the free throw line, to go along with 7.0 rebounds.
SCOUTING THE JAGUARS
- After winning twice at home last week, South Alabama owns a 13-12 record and 6-6 mark in the Sun Belt.
- Rodrick Sikes leads the team in scoring (18.4 ppg) and steals (25). His scoring average also ranks sixth in the league.
- Josh Ajayi is ranks second on the Jaguars in scoring at 13.1 ppg and also is pulling down a team-high 6.6 rpg.
- South Alabama is holding opponents to 40.7 percent shooting from the field, which ranks second in the conference. In addition, the Jaguars are giving up 67.4 ppg, which sits third in the Sun Belt.
NEXT UP
The Mountaineers will welcome Troy to the Holmes Center in another key Sun Belt showdown at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. App State will be hosting Access to Success, who will be collecting new or like new shoes to provide sustainable programs that generate positive change for Nigerian children and their communities through education, faith and sports. Fans are also encouraged to stop by the table to enter to win an team autographed basketball. A bonus ticket will be rewarded with donation of a pair of shoes.
In addition, Saturday is also youth day. All youth ages 12 and under will be admitted into the game for free. Mountaineer basketball alum Omar Carter will be on hand for the Healthy Heard Collaborative, which will promote cardiovascular health in the High Country community. At halftime, the Appalachian State football team will also be honored for their 2017 season.
