BOONE, N.C. – Coming off of a 3-0 week, the App State Mountaineers (4-2) will put their three-game winning streak to the test on Wednesday when they welcome an old rival in the ETSU Buccaneers (3-3) to the Holmes Center on Wednesday. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+.
The Mountaineers' 3-0 performance last week, which included a 30-point win over mid-major power UNC Wilmington in Fort Myers last Tuesday, marked App State's first three-game winning streak of the season. During those three games, the Mountaineers outscored their opponents by 60 points, marking the largest margin of victory over a three-game stretch since the beginning of last year when they outscored their first three opponents by a combined 68 points.
The Mountaineers' matchup with the Buccaneers on Wednesday will mark the fifth straight opponent App State will face that has made an NCAA Tournament appearance in the last eight years. The Black & Gold have won each of the previous three games during that stretch and are 3-1 overall.
The Matchup
- Who: App State vs. ETSU
- Where: Holmes Convocation Center // Boone, N.C.
- When: Wednesday, November 29 // 6:30 p.m.
Tune In
- Watch: ESPN+
- Listen: 97.3 WKBC, 96.5/1450 WATA, 790/93.7 WETB, 1250/103.9 WBRM
- Live Stats: appstatesports.com
Last Time Out
App State's 78-58 win over Austin Peay last Sunday marked the Black & Gold's 200th win in the Holmes Convocation Center era. The Mountaineers dominated from start to finish and claimed their third consecutive convincing victory.
Tre'Von Spillers continued his torrid offensive stretch against the Governors, dropping in a season- and Mountaineer-high 20 points on 9-13 shooting. Spillers has led App State in scoring in half of App State's games this season and has scored in double-figures in each of the previous three contests.
On the defensive side, the Mountaineers held the Governors to just 36 percent shooting from the field, marking the third straight game that App State has held its opponent below 40 percent shooting for the game. After struggling on defense to start the year, the Mountaineers have righted the ship and haven't allowed more than 60 points since Nov. 14.
Scouting the Mountaineers
App State has had no trouble finding the basket so far this season as they have notched 70 or more points in five of their six games to start the season. The Mountaineers have not accomplished that feat since 2018-19. Additionally, the Black & Gold are outscoring their opponents by an impressive 98 points in their four wins.
The Mountaineers play complementary basketball as they boast the second-largest scoring margin in the Sun Belt Conference coming into play on Wednesday at 12.5. App State sits second in the conference in scoring defense while pairing that with the fourth-best scoring offense in the SBC.
App State's depth has been a major factor thus far this season as nine players typically see the floor each night. The Mountaineers have seen nine players score at least two points in four of the six games this season while also having at least three players tally double-digit scoring nights in each of the past 12 games.
Defensively, the Mountaineers are one the best teams in the country at blocking shots, averaging 6.2 blocked shots per game which is the eighth-highest mark in the nation. Sophomore forward
Justin Abson sits alone in fifth place in the country in blocks per game and is one of five players in the NCAA to average at least three blocks a game coming into play on Wednesday.
Scouting the Buccaneers
ETSU is 3-3 on the season and has won two of their last three games. The Buccaneers went 1-1 at the Viking Invitational last week, falling to the host school Cleveland State on Wednesday before topping Alabama A&M last Friday.
Three players currently average double-figures for the Buccaneers with Ebby Asamoah leading the charge, scoring 16.5 points a night. ETSU has been a good offensive team this year as they have scored at least 70 points in five of their first six games.
First-year head coach Brooks Savage is in his first stint as a head coach at the collegiate level, but he has been a part of 170 wins as an assistant. App State head coach
Dustin Kerns and Savage share a bit of the same path as Savage was an assistant at Presbyterian in 2011-12, which was where Kerns got his start in the head coaching ranks.
Series History
The Mountaineers and Buccaneers will meet for the 129th time on Wednesday, renewing a rivalry that dates back to 1927. App State has played ETSU more times than any other 2023-24 opponent. The Buccaneers lead the all-time series 48-80, but the Mountaineers have won the last two contests.
Donovan Gregory has made two starts against the Buccaneers in his career. Gregory has scored 26 points and dished out six assists in his career against ETSU.
Switching sides, Buccaneer guard Ebby Asamoah has experience against the Black & Gold in his career, playing against them at the Gulf Coast Showcase in Estero, Fla., as a member of the Delaware Blue Hens. Asamoah played 20 minutes in that game, scoring three points.
Next Up
App State's highly anticipated, nationally televised home game against the Auburn Tigers is next up on its schedule. It will be the first time the Holmes Center will host a high-major opponent in 23 years. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN2.
