AUBURN, Ala. -- App State men's basketball will conclude non-conference on Tuesday afternoon at SEC foe Auburn. Tip is set for 3 p.m. EST on SEC Network and the Appalachian Sports Network from Learfield IMG College.
THE SERIES
- This will be the second meeting all-time between the two schools.
- Auburn won the lone meeting in the 1976-77 season 84-61.
LAST TIME OUT
- App State used a balanced offensive attack to post a 77-41 win over Columbia International on Friday.
- Adrian Delph paced the Black and Gold with a game high 14 points, while adding three rebounds and a pair of steals. Donovan Gregory added a near double-double with 13 points and a season best nine rebounds. Kendall Lewis finished with 10 points, six rebounds and three assists, Michael Almonacy added nine points and seven rebounds and RJ Duhart had eight points and six rebounds.
- App State used an early 11-0 run to build a 13-3. The Rams pulled within three at 18-15, but the Mountaineers answered with a 9-0 spurt to take a 27-15 lead with 6:03 left in the half. App State took a 40-26 advantage into the break. In the second half, the Black and Gold scored the first nine points to extend its lead to 49-26. Columbia International would get no closer than 22 points the rest of the way.
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS
- App State stands at 6-2 on the season after its win on Friday. The 6-2 start is the best start for the Mountaineers since the 1989-90 season, when App State also started 6-2. A win over the Tigers would give the Mountaineers their best start since 1988-89, when they began 10-1.
- After limiting Columbia International to 41 points on Friday, the Black and Gold have now help five opponents under 60 points this season. In all, App State leads in the conference and sits sixth nationally in opponent scoring at 55.4 points. In addition, the Mountaineers are holding opponents to 35.9 percent shooting (first in Sun Belt; 16th nationally) and 27.2 percent on 3-pointers (third in Sun Belt; 38th nationally).
- Adrian Delph has reached double figures in six games this season and leads the team in scoring at 12.4 points. Donovan Gregory (11.5 ppg) and Kendall Lewis (10.6 ppg) are also averaging double figures for the Mountaineers.
- Five players have reached double figures in total assists this season in Michael Almonacy (21), Gregory (19), Justin Forrest (15), Kendall Lewis (15) and Delph (14).
- Four Mountaineers are averaging over 4.0 rebounds in Almonacy (4.8 rpg), Lewis (4.5 rpg), Gregory (4.4 rpg) and James Lewis Jr. (4.3 rpg).
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
- Auburn improved to 5-2 on the season with a 77-41 home win over Troy on Saturday. In the win, the Tigers shot 75 percent from the field in the first half and jumped out to a 21-3 lead
- Allen Flanigan had a team-high 14 points, while Jaylin Williams added 11 points and six rebounds...JT Thor added 10 points in the win.
- Justin Powell leads the team in scoring (14.6 ppg) and rebounding (6.1 rpg), with Flanigan sitting second in scoring at 13.9 points.
- Williams is also averaging double figures at 10.1 points and has a team leading 10 blocks on the season.
UP NEXT
App State will shift focus to Sun Belt play and open its conference season on Jan. 1 against Troy in the Holmes Convocation Center at 6 p.m. on ESPN+ and the Appalachian Sports Network from Learfield IMG College. The Mountaineers and Trojans will also play on Jan. 2 at 4 p.m. on ESPN+ and the Appalachian Sports Network from Learfield IMG College.
