PHOENIX, Ariz. – App State closed out its nonconference season in the Jerry Colangelo Classic at the Footprint Center, where the Mountaineers fell short against the Gauchos, 50-61.
Tyree Boykin led the team in scoring with 14, which was his fifth game of the season with 14 or more.
The Mountaineers led by two at the end of the first half, where they held the opposing team to 27 points before UC Santa Barbara pulled ahead in the second frame.
App State posted 25 bench points, including nine from Dibaji Walker, who scored on three consecutive possessions in the first half. The Mountaineers currently rank 18th in the nation and second in the Sun Belt in bench points (31.6).
Justin Abson blocked three shots, increasing his total to 31, which ties him for 10th in the country and second among freshmen.
CJ Huntley grabbed nine rebounds for the third time this season, four of which came on the offensive glass.
The Mountaineers look ahead to next week when they will open Sun Belt play against two of the top three teams in the league on the road. App State will visit Marshall on Dec. 29 and Southern Miss on Dec. 31.
