Xavion Brown
Anderson Kennedy

Men's Basketball

App State's Homestand to Close Regular Season Starts Wednesday vs. ODU

BOONE, N.C. –  After concluding their road schedule with a nationally televised win over Marshall last Saturday, the App State Mountaineers (24-5, 14-2 SBC) return home for their final two home games of the season, hosting the Old Dominion Monarchs (7-22, 3-13 SBC) to begin the homestand on Wednesday. App State will go for its sixth season sweep of the season on Wednesday. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+. 
 
Tickets still remain for App State's home contest against ODU on Wednesday. 
 
With a win on Wednesday, the Mountaineers would clinch at least a share of the Sun Belt regular season title, which would be the first time that App State has clinched a share of the conference regular season title since the 1999-00 season. Additionally, an App State win on Wednesday would secure the top seed in the conference tournament for the first time since 1978-79 and the first time as a member of the Sun Belt Conference. 
 
The Mountaineers' win over Marshall on national TV last Saturday marked win No. 24 this season for App State. It's just the third time in program history that App State has won at least 24 games in a season and the first 24-win season since 2009-10. A win on Wednesday would tie the program record for wins in a season. 
 
Additionally, App State's win over Marshall secured the best 16-game start in conference play in program history as App State is now 14-2. It's just the second season in program history where the Mountaineers have won at least 14 games. A win on Wednesday would tie the program record for conference wins in a season that was set by the 2006-07 team. 
 
The Matchup 
  • Who: App State (RV) vs. Old Dominion
  • Where: Holmes Convocation Center // Boone, N.C.
  • When: Wednesday, Feb. 28 // 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
In App State's third nationally televised contest of the season, the Mountaineers powered through a sluggish first half and outscored the Marshall Thundering Herd by 13 in the second half to claim a 65-58 road win. The win secured App State's best road record since 2006-07. 
 
Myles Tate's career day fueled the Mountaineers in the second half as his 25 points accounted for 38 percent of the Mountaineers' total points scored. 18 of those 25 points came in the second half. Overall, three Mountaineers reached double figures in Donovan Gregory and Terence Harcum. Tate's 25 points marked his second 20-point game this season and the third of his career. 
 
The Mountaineer defense was stellar on Saturday as the Black and Gold held the Herd to just 32 percent shooting and three made threes on 23 attempts. Saturday marked the 17th time this season that App State has held an opponent below 40 percent shooting. 
 
Scouting the Mountaineers
At 24-5 and 14-2 in Sun Belt play, the Mountaineers enter this week's action in sole possession of first place in the league and have won 23 of their last 26 games. App State is one of just nine Division I teams with at least 24 wins while also being one of only 15 teams in the country with five or fewer losses entering play against ODU. The Mountaineers currently own the ninth-best win percentage in the country. 
 
App State has been lights out at home this season as they are the only remaining unbeaten team at home in the Sun Belt and are one of just 17 teams in the nation with an unblemished home record. On average, App State is defeating its opponents by 19 points at the Holmes Center and has posted five double-digit victories at home in conference play. 
 
App State's defense has been tough to crack this season as it enters Wednesday with the fifth-lowest opponent field-goal percentage in the country. Opponents are shooting just 39 percent against the Mountaineers, making them one of 16 teams in the nation that keep opponents below 40 percent shooting from the field. App State has kept 17 of its opponents below 40 percent shooting this season and are 16-1 when they do so. 
 
Additionally, the Mountaineers have been the best team in the country at blocking shots this season, averaging 6.9 blocks per game, which is almost a full block clear of the next-closest team. With 201 blocks this year, the Mountaineers have already shattered the previous program record for blocks in a season of 155 that was set in 1990-91. The Mountaineers are 26 blocks clear of the next closest team (Bryant, 170). 
 
Offensively, the Mountaineers boast one of the deepest teams in college basketball as 11 of the 13 active players on the team have recorded a double-digit point game this season. Additionally, seven different players have recorded a 20-point game this season. The Mountaineer second unit has been vital to their success this season as the Black and Gold own the 20th-best scoring bench in the country entering Wednesday. 
 
The Mountaineers have been a great second-half team this season as they have outscored their opponent in the second half in 20 of the 29 games this year. In their last four games, the Mountaineers have outscored their opponents by 58 points in the second half and have won three straight games in which they have trailed by at least nine points in the second half. 
 
Scouting the Monarchs
ODU is 7-22 entering play against App State, but it did win its last contest, claiming a double-digit victory over Coastal Carolina last Saturday to snap a six-game losing streak. Despite the poor record, the Monarchs have been competitive as nine of their 13 conference losses have come by fewer than 10 points. 
 
The Monarchs are led by Preseason All-Sun Belt first team selection Chaunce Jenkins, who scored 19 points against the Mountaineers in Norfolk on Feb. 22. Jenkins enters play as the fourth-leading scorer in the Sun Belt Conference, averaging 16 points a game. 
 
Longtime head coach Jeff Jones announced his retirement on Monday after 11 seasons at the helm of the program. Kieran Donohue, who has coached in Jones' absence since December, will coach the rest of the season. 
 
Series History 
App State welcomes Old Dominion to the Holmes Center for just the second time ever on Wednesday. Wednesday's contest also marks the second meeting in the last six days between the Mountaineers and Monarchs. App State claimed a 15-point victory in Norfolk last Thursday. App State led for 26 minutes in the win. 
 
Harcum's 18-point second-half outburst paced App State to a double-digit victory at Chartway Arena last Thursday. His 22 points against the Monarchs marked his second 20-point game at Chartway Arena in as many games he has played there. Overall, four Mountaineers reached double figures, including Tre'Von Spillers who recorded his team-leading eighth double-double of the year. 
 
Head coach Dustin Kerns is 1-0 in his career against ODU interim head coach Kieran Donohue. Kerns is 2-1 against the Monarchs in his career.  
 
Next Up
The Mountaineers conclude their home and regular season schedule on Friday against Arkansas State. Friday's game is senior night at the Holmes Center and the team will honor Donovan Gregory, Bryant Greene and CJ Huntley pregame. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+. 
 
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Players Mentioned

Bryant Greene

#14 Bryant Greene

G
6' 1"
Senior
Donovan Gregory

#11 Donovan Gregory

F
6' 5"
Senior
Terence Harcum

#23 Terence Harcum

G
6' 3"
Sophomore
CJ Huntley

#15 CJ Huntley

F
6' 11"
Junior
Tre’Von Spillers

#24 Tre’Von Spillers

F
6' 7"
Junior
Myles Tate

#12 Myles Tate

G
6' 0"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Bryant Greene

#14 Bryant Greene

6' 1"
Senior
G
Donovan Gregory

#11 Donovan Gregory

6' 5"
Senior
F
Terence Harcum

#23 Terence Harcum

6' 3"
Sophomore
G
CJ Huntley

#15 CJ Huntley

6' 11"
Junior
F
Tre’Von Spillers

#24 Tre’Von Spillers

6' 7"
Junior
F
Myles Tate

#12 Myles Tate

6' 0"
Junior
G