App hosts Eagles
By Steve Behr
sports@wataugademocrat.com

Appalachian State has already proved it can win on the road. However, winning the third out of a three-game homestand would go a long way in helping the Mountaineers make a run at a North Division championship.

Appalachian State hosts Georgia Southern at the Holmes Center Saturday, looking to win three straight during its recent homestand. The Mountaineers opened their three-game stand with a resounding 91-68 victory over UNC Greensboro last Saturday.

The Mountaineers also hosted Chattanooga Thursday night, but results were not available by press time. A win over Chattanooga and one over Georgia Southern, coupled with a Chattanooga loss at Davidson Saturday, would put the Mountaineers just one-half game behind the Mocs for first place in the Southern Conference’s North Division.

A win Saturday won’t come easy against Georiga Southern, which beat Appalachian State 85-72 in Statesboro, Ga. back on Dec. 1. The loss was the Mountaineers’ third straight at the time and had left them 3-5.

Much has changed since then. Georgia Southern, which was 6-1 at the time, is 5-4 since and stands 11-5 overall, 4-2 in the SoCon going into Thursday’s games. Appalachian State (9-6, 4-2) has won three of four road games against SoCon teams, and has won six of its last seven games.

Guard play has been critical in Appalachian State’s success. Point guards Donald Sims (14 points) and Ryann Abraham (15 points) provided 29 overall points for the Mountaineers against UNC Greensboro.

Jeremi Booth has also worked his way into the Mountaineers’ rotation. The redshirt freshman hit all four of his 3-point attempts Saturday and finished with 16 points.