PHOENIX, Ariz. -- App State men's basketball is set for its only neutral-site contest of the regular season against UC Santa Barbara on Wednesday at 6 p.m. ET. The game will be played at the Footprint Center, home of the Phoenix Suns, as part of the Jerry Colangelo Classic.
The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with live stats and listening options available to follow along.
THE SERIES
- This will be the 2nd meeting between the two schools in a series that UC Santa Barbara leads 1-0.
- The Gauchos defeated the Mountaineers 36-29 during the 1940-41 NAIA Tournament in Kansas City, Mo.
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS (7-5)
- Last time out, App State hit triple-digits for the third time this season in a dominant 100-32 performance over Regent. Christopher Mantis led all scorers with 17 (7-9, 3-5 3FG) while Tamell Pearson secured App State's first double-double of the season (14 points and 12 rebounds).
- Mantis has earned 16.3 points per game over the last four contests. The sophomore sharpshooter is averaging 54% from the floor and 42% from three-point range this season.
- App State has a top-25 defense nationwide when it comes to FG%, holding its opponents to 38.3%. The Mountaineers lead the Sun Belt in this category.
- The Black & Gold average 31.6 bench points per game, the 19th-highest mark in the nation.
SCOUTING THE GAUCHOS (8-2)
- UC Santa Barbara has put together a four-game winning streak with victories over Pacific (82-71), Pepperdine (67-64), San Diego Christian (81-68) and Portland State (85-73).
- Ajay Mitchell leads the Gauchos in scoring (14.7), followed by three others in double-digits: Miles Norris (13.1), Josh Pierre-Louis (10.4) and Andre Kelly (10.0). Mitchell also paces the team in assists with 47.
- Kelly and Norris have crashed the boards this season, averaging 8.0 and 6.5 rebounds, respectively. As a team, the Gauchos have out-rebounded their opponents 37.9 to 30.1.
- UC Santa Barbara faced one Sun Belt opponent last season, losing to former SBC member UT Arlington 62-70 at home.
UP NEXT
The Mountaineers will begin Sun Belt action against two of the top three teams in the standings with visits to Marshall on Dec. 29 and Southern Miss on Dec. 31.
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