BOONE, N.C. – After a slow shooting start that saw it shoot just 38.5 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes, the App State men's basketball team flipped a switch and outran the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns in the second half to post a 72-58 win in a game that was moved around due to this weekend's forecasted weather. The Mountaineers shot 68.2 percent from the field and 69.2 percent from three in the final half, while outscoring Louisiana by 13 points.
Jalen Tot played a big role in App State's stellar second half, as he totaled 21 second-half points on six 3-pointers. The graduate guard from Dallas struggled to open the game, shooting 0-6 from the field in the first half, but he kept shooting when he was open in the second half, and it paid off. Tot's six 3-pointers mark the most by a Mountaineer in a game this season.
App State's (12-9, 5-4 SBC) defense was strong all game, as it held the Ragin' Cajuns (5-16, 3-6 SBC) below 60 points. This marked the eighth time this season that the Mountaineers have kept their opponent below 60 points. Additionally, Louisiana shot just 37.9 percent from the field in the contest, which marks the Mountaineers' ninth time holding an opponent below a 40 percent field-goal percentage.
The Mountaineers were also physical on the glass against the Ragin' Cajuns, as they won the rebound battle by 15, while also posting their seventh straight game with at least 10 offensive rebounds. App State showed its might, especially in the first half on the glass, as it owned a 22-12 rebounding advantage at the half. It's the fourth time this season that App State has outrebounded an opponent by 15 or more.
How it Happened
Louisiana scored the game's first points on its opening possession, but as is the case with most early tip times, both teams were sluggish to open the game, as the two teams scored just two points through three minutes of action. The Ragin's Cajuns hit on a 3-pointer to extend their lead to five points before
Luke Wilson connected on a layup to open the scoring for App State at the 16:38 mark of the first half.
A free throw by
Michael Marcus Jr. made it a two-point game by the first media timeout, but the Mountaineers couldn't find any footing on offense to open the contest as it started just 1-11 from the field through the first eight minutes of play. Louisiana took advantage of this and raced ahead to a six-point lead with just over 14 minutes to play.
Eren Banks ended the run with a floater in the paint, but the Ragin' Cajuns answered with a pair of baskets to go up by seven by the under-12 timeout.
Seeing their largest deficit of the game, the Mountaineers quickly responded by embarking on an 8-2 run to cut their deficit down to one point by the halfway point of the first half. Louisiana ended the run with a score, but
Alonzo Dodd tied the game at 18 points with a step-back 3-pointer. App State took its first lead of the game by the 6:31 mark of the first half after
Kasen Jennings buried two free throws.
Trailing for the first time in the game, Louisiana scored eight of the next 11 points to take a three-point lead. Jennings didn't let that lead last long after nailing a 3-pointer from the corner, and Dodd sent App State back ahead with a pair of free throws. Wilson capped off the first half by throwing down a dunk off a sweet dish from Dodd, who matched his career high in assists with 10 in the game, to push the Mountaineers ahead by one when the halftime horn sounded.
Marcus Jr. and Tot opened the second half by drilling back-to-back 3-pointers from almost identical spots, which propelled the Mountaineers to a five-point lead by the 18:43 mark. Louisiana responded to tie the score at 39 apiece after a Todd Jones Jr. dunk, but Marcus Jr. gave App State the lead right back at the first media timeout by nailing his third 3-pointer of the game.
The Ragin' Cajuns came out of the timeout and scored six of the game's next eight points to take the lead right back. App State responded well thanks to Jennings and a Tot four-point play and jumped out to a six-point lead with 7:34 to play in the game. Tot's third 3-pointer of the game forced a Louisiana timeout, and out of the timeout, Wilson hustled after a loose ball on a free throw and electrified the crowd with a thunderous dunk to push the Mountaineers ahead by eight.
With the momentum fully in favor of App State, Tot drilled a 3-pointer to run App State's lead to double-digits at the 5:43 mark. Then, after Louisiana made a jumper, Tot beat the shot clock with a long 3-pointer from the left wing, soaring App State to a 12-point lead with five minutes to play. This was Tot's fifth three of the contest.
After the sixth 3-pointer of the second half from Tot dropped, Wilson again showcased his strength and tracked down a loose ball for a dunk to give App State a 15-point advantage by the final media timeout. Jennings' 17th and final point of the game helped push the Mountaineers to a game-high 18-point lead, which all but secured a commanding home win for App State.
Louisiana scored the game's final four points to close the gap a little bit, but App State's hot shooting helped it close out its seventh home win of the season.
Top Performers
Tot's incredible second half helped lead him to a game- and season-high 21 points, which made him the fifth different Mountaineer to record a 20-point game this season. Tot's six 3-pointers are also tied for the fourth-most by a Sun Belt player this season. Despite starting cold (missed his first four shots), Jennings closed strong by nailing his final six field-goal attempts to post 17 points on an efficient 60 percent clip. It marks his fifth straight game scoring in double figures. Marcus Jr. was also good in his minutes, as he totaled 13 points, while missing just one shot. This included a perfect line from 3-point land (3-3).
Up Next
App State will turn around immediately and host the ULM Warhawks at the Holmes Center on Friday at noon. Due to the forecasted winter weather and the tip times being changed, admission to the Holmes Center for Friday's game is free. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
