PENSACOLA, Fla. -- For the first time since 2010, App State men's basketball will play for a chance for an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Mountaineers will meet Georgia State for the Sun Belt Tournament title on Monday evening in Pensacola, Fla. at 7 p.m. on ESPN2 and the Appalachian Sports Network from Learfield IMG College.
APP STATE IN THE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
- App State makes its first ever appearance in the Sun Belt Tournament Championship game since joining the league in the 2014-15 season. The Mountaineers last appeared in a conference championship game during the 2010 Southern Conference Tournament (lost to Wofford 56-51). The Mountaineers have made two appearances in the NCAA Tournament (1979, 2000).
- App State is 2-7 all-time in conference tournament championship games, all as a member of the Southern Conference:
- 1977 - lost 69-67 (OT) vs VMI
- 1979 - won 86-83 vs. Furman
- 1981 - lost 59-55 vs. Chattanooga
- 1990 - lost 96-75 vs. ETSU
- 1991 - lost 101-82 vs. ETSU
- 1998 - lost 66-62 vs. Davidson
- 1999 - lost 77-67 vs. College of Charleston
- 2000 - won 68-56 vs. College of Charleston
- 2010 - lost 56-51 vs. Wofford
- App State is appearing in the Sun Belt Tournament for the fifth time and is 5-4 all-time after defeating Little Rock on Friday 67-60, Texas State on Saturday 76-73 in overtime and Coastal Carolina 64-61 in overtime on Sunday. The Mountaineers have won three games in a conference tournament for the first time since the 2000 Southern Conference Tournament.
- After defeating Little Rock 67-60 on Friday, App State has now won a Sun Belt Tournament contest in back-to-back seasons (W, 70-65 vs. Coastal Carolina last season). It marks the first time the Mountaineers have won a conference tournament game in two straight seasons since 2011-12 (W, 93-81 vs. College of Charleston) and 2012-13 (W, 74-60 vs. Furman), as members of the Southern Conference.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
- App State has won three games in three days to earn its trip to the conference tournament championship game. The Mountaineers, seeded fourth out of the East Division, topped Little Rock 67-60 on Friday evening. The Black and Gold followed that up with a 76-73 overtime win over Sun Belt West Division champion Texas State on Saturday. The Mountaineers needed another extra session on Sunday in the Semifinals, defeating Coastal Carolina 64-61 in overtime.
- Georgia State earned a bye in the opening round after capturing the Sun Belt East Division title. The Panthers defeated Arkansas State 71-68 on Saturday night and defeated Louisiana 84-73 on Sunday to move on to the championship game.
THE SERIES
- This is the 16th all-time meeting between the two schools, with Georgia State leading 8-7.
- The teams met three times this season, with App State winning the season series 2-1.
- The Mountaineers won twice in Boone, topping the Panthers 80-71 on Jan. 22 and 74-61 on Jan. 23. Georgia State won the matchup in Atlanta on Feb. 23 by an 85-71 score.
- The two teams have never met in the Sun Belt Tournament.
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS
- The Mountaineers stand at 16-11 on the season and went 7-8 in conference play, which placed them fourth the Sun Belt East Division.
- A total of four players are averaging double figure scoring for App State in Justin Forrest (13.0 ppg), Adrian Delph (12.9 ppg), Michael Almonacy (12.1 ppg) and Donovan Gregory (11.0 ppg).
- Gregory is averaging a team best 5.8 rebounds and also has a team high 49 steals. Almonacy leads the team in assists with 80.
- App State is holding opponents to 64.2 points per game, which ranks second in the Sun Belt. The Mountaineers have held 12 opponents to under 65 points this season.
- The Black and Gold are averaging just 13.7 fouls per game, which ranks fifth in the nation.
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
- Georgia State is 16-5 on the season and posted an 8-4 mark in conference play, which was first in the Sun Belt East Division.
- A total of five players are averaging double figures in scoring in Corey Allen (15.2 ppg), Justin Roberts (13.3 ppg), Kane Williams (12.7 ppg), Eliel Nsoseme (11.9 ppg) and Jalen Thomas (10.5 ppg).
- Allen is shooting 42.7 percent on 3-pointers, which leads the Sun Belt. Nsoseme is one of three players in the league averaging double figures in rebounding, ranking third at 10.1 rebounds.
- As a team, the Panthers are averaging 80.7 points and shooting 47.2 percent from the field, both of which are tops in the Sun Belt.
- This will be Georgia State's third straight appearance in the Sun Belt Tournament title game and fifth appearance in the last seven seasons.
