Men's Basketball Hosts Troy in Two-Game Series to Begin Sun Belt Play

BOONE, N.C. -- App State men's basketball will open Sun Belt play with a pair of contests against Troy in the Holmes Convocation Center. Friday's tip is set for 6 p.m., followed by a 4 p.m. start on Saturday. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+ and can be heard on the Appalachian Sports Network from Learfield IMG College.

SPECTATOR INFO
With the implementation of Governor Roy Cooper's Executive Order 176, Phase 3 of North Carolina's eased coronavirus restrictions allows for indoor venues to have limited viewing. Tikcets will be reserved for student-athlete families and select season ticket holders.

FAN CUTOUTS
Fan cutouts are available to purchase for inside the Holmes Center. Cutouts can be purchased by clicking here.

THE SERIES

• This will be the 15th meeting between the two schools, with App State leading 10-4.
• The Black and Gold have won three straight in the series, including a season sweep last year.
• App State is a perfect 5-0 in the Holmes Center against Troy in Sun Belt play.

LAST TIME OUT

• App State fell 67-53 at Auburn in its non-conference finale on Dec. 22. 
• After trailing by three points at the half, Auburn (6-2) scored the first seven points to begin the second half and take a 41-31 edge. The Tigers extended their lead to 45-33, before App State roared back with a 9-0 run, getting seven points from Adrian Delph along the way, to pull within two at 45-42 with 10:13 to go. Auburn scored on its next possession, but the Mountaineers came right back with a 3-pointer from Michael Almonacy to cut the Tigers lead to 47-45 with 8:56 left. The Tigers answered with a 12-0 run to push their lead to 14 points at 59-45 with just over four minutes remaining. The Black and Gold would get no closer than 12 points the rest of the way.
• Almonacy finished with a game-high tying 25 points, while Delph tallied nine points. Donovan Gregory added seven points and a team-high tying four rebounds.

SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS

• The Mountaineers posted a 6-3 mark in non-conference play, marking its second straight non-conference winning record (6-5 in 2019-20). The last time App State posted back-to-back seasons with non-conference winning records was in 1998-99 (6-4) and 1999-00 (6-4).
• App State's 6-3 start to the season is the best for the program since 2006-07, when the Mountaineers began the season 12-3.
• App State will open Sun Belt play at home for the first time since the 2017-18 season, when the Black and Gold defeated Texas State 66-62. The Mountaineers are 3-3 all-time in their Sun Belt opening game.
• Delph (12.0 ppg) and Gregory (11.0 ppg) are both averaging double figures for App State. Delph is also shooting a team best 39.1 percent on 3-pointers this season.
• James Lewis Jr. is shooting a team-best 60.7 percent from the field and also had a team leading nine blocks on the season.
• Defensively, App State is holding opponents to 56.7 points and a 37.2 shooting percentage, both of which lead the Sun Belt. In addition, the Mountaineers are shooting 80.1 percent from the free throw line, which leads the conference and ranks ninth nationally.

SCOUTING THE TROJANS

• Troy concluded non-conference play with a 5-4 mark after defeating Carver 88-35 on Monday.
• Nick Stampley paced the Trojans with game highs of 16 points and 17 rebounds. Zay Williams (15) and Kam Woods (13) also reached double figures in scoring in the win.
• Williams leads the team in scoring (12.4 ppg), with Woods (9.4 ppg), Stampley (9.3 ppg) and Khalyl Woods (9.3 ppg) also averaging at least 9.0 points.
• As a team, the Trojans are holding opponents to 64.2 points, which sits third in the Sun Belt.

UP NEXT
The Mountaineers will remain in the High Country and welcome Georgia Southern to the Holmes Convocation Center next weekend. The two teams will meet on Jan. 8 at 6 p.m. and Jan. 9 at 4 p.m. Both contests will be broadcast on ESPN+ and can be heard on the Appalachian Sports Network from Learfield IMG College.