Game Day Primer: App State Returns to Boone to Host Carolina University

BOONE, N.C. - Following a loss in the season opener to Central Michigan as part of the MAC-SBC Challenge, the App State men's basketball team now turns its attention to its home opener, welcoming the Carolina University Bruins to the Holmes Center on Wednesday. App State owns a 25-4 record at the Holmes Center since the start of the 2023-24 season and has posted four straight 10-win seasons on its home floor. Tip off from Boone is set for 6:30 p.m., and the game can be streamed on ESPN+.
 
On top of the record over the last two seasons at home, App State enters Wednesday night's home-opening contest as winners of 10 of their last 11 home openers. The only loss during this span came last season, when the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks took down App State to end its 15-game home winning streak. App State is 5-1 in the Kerns era in home openers.
 
The Mountaineers have shown the ability to score the ball on their home floor in recent history. Last season, App State averaged 75 points a game at the Holmes Center, compared to just 65 points a game in contests played away from home. Of App State's 11 games in which it scored 70 or more points last season, nine of them came at home, which includes each of the Mountaineers' four 80 or more point outings.
 
Wednesday's contest vs. the Bruins will mark the first of seven games this season in which App State will play against an in-state opponent. The Mountaineers will also square off with N.C. Central, Charlotte, Elon, UNC Asheville, ECU and High Point in nonconference play. This marks the most games that App State will play against in-state foes in a season in the Kerns era. The Mountaineers will also play two neutral-site games in nearby Asheville (Nov. 30) and Hickory (Dec. 14).
 
The Matchup 

• Who: App State vs. Carolina Univ.
• Where: Holmes Convocation Center // Boone, N.C.
• When: Wednesday, Nov. 5 // 6:30 p.m.

 
Tune In

• Watch: Watch (ESPN+) | David Jackson (PxP), John Reisterer (Color), Bob Dillner (Sideline)
• Listen: FLAGSHIP 97.3 (North Wilkesboro), 950 AM/92.7 FM (Greensboro), 790 AM/93.7 FM (Johnson City) | Matt Present (PxP) 
• Live Stats: appstatesports.com 

 
Last Time Out
In the opening game of the 2025-26 campaign, App State dropped an 82-66 road contest against the Central Michigan Chippewas on Monday. The Chippewas scored the game's first four points and never looked back, as they led by as much as 20 points and never trailed in the contest.  
 
App State couldn't get it going on the offensive end, shooting just 35 percent from the floor and 48 percent from the free-throw line. The Mountaineers did see 10 of their 27 3-pointers find the bottom of the net. Kasen Jennings, Alonzo Dodd and Eren Banks each buried multiple threes against Central Michigan.
 
Jennings was a bright spot for the Mountaineers on Monday as he scored a career-best 21 points on 5-10 shooting. Jennings' aggressiveness in the paint helped him draw a team-best 10 fouls, which led to 10 free-throw attempts. He also added a team-high six rebounds, three assists and three steals. Jennings' 21 points marked his first career 20-point game.

Scouting the Mountaineers
App State is coming off a 17-14 season and a sixth-place finish in the Sun Belt Conference in 2024-25. The Mountaineers' .548 winning percentage marked the sixth straight season that they have posted a .500 or better winning percentage, which is the first time App State has seen six straight .500 or better seasons since 1962-68.
 
Defense continues to be App State's calling card as the Mountaineers paced the Sun Belt Conference in scoring defense for the fourth consecutive season in 2024-25. App State allowed just 63.5 points per game, which placed it 12th nationally in that category. App State has finished in the top 50 nationally in scoring defense each year since 2020-21.
 
Despite the outcome on Monday, the Mountaineers crashed the offensive glass well, grabbing 17 offensive rebounds, which turned into 20 second-chance points. The Mountaineers' 17 offensive rebounds were more than in any game last season and were the most since also tallying 17 vs. Georgia Southern on Jan. 17, 2024. Through the first game of the season, App State leads the Sun Belt in offensive rebounds.
 
The 3-point shot has become a major factor in the Mountaineers' offense since the start of last season. This development has proved effective as App State buried 34.5 percent of its 3-pointers last season, good for the best mark in the Kerns era and tied for the fourth-highest clip in the Sun Belt. On Monday, the Mountaineers buried 10 of their 27 3-point attempts, which was good for a 37 percent clip. It was their 10th game with at least 10 3-pointers made since the start of last season. App State has made at least five threes in each of its last 13 games entering Wednesday. 
 
Scouting the Bruins
Carolina University enters play on Wednesday with a 1-2 record, defeating Columbia International in its season opener, before falling to Columbia College and Milligan in its last two games.
 
The Bruins see three players who average double figures entering Wednesday's game in Duece Ford, Tristan Kuska and Shawn Woodson. Ford paces the Bruins' offensive attack, averaging 13.3 points per contest. This average includes a 21-point game against Columbia on Oct. 29.
 
Led by fourth-year head coach Jacob Heck, the Bruins have done well at limiting the three from their opponents, as just 25 percent of 3-pointers go down against them thus far this season.

Series History
The Mountaineers and Bruins will meet for the first time on Wednesday. The contest in Boone will mark the first of two straight games that App State will play against in-state teams, as it will take on North Carolina Central on Sunday. App State won two games against North Carolina foes a season ago, downing St. Andrews and Queens at the Holmes Center.
 
No player on the active roster has ever taken the floor against Carolina, and Kerns has never coached against the Bruins.

Next Up
Once Wednesday's action wraps up, the Mountaineers will welcome the N.C. Central Eagles to the Holmes Center on Sunday. Sunday's game will mark the fourth all-time meeting between the two teams. Tip off from Boone is slated for 1 p.m., and the contest can be streamed on ESPN+.