Big first half helps

Mountaineers beat GSU
By Steve Behr
 
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Appalachian State coach Houston Fancher became the first Southern Conference coach to use the cliché “survive and advance.”

It was mostly, by his own admission, because he was the first coach to conduct a post-game press conference following the Mountaineers solid 86-75 victory over Georgia Southern in the first round of the Southern Conference Tournament at McKenzie Arena Friday.

The fact that Appalachian State shot a sizzling 69 percent from the field (20-of-29) in the first half against the Eagles certainly raised some eyebrows. However, Georgia Southern (8-22) shot 54.5 percent from the field (18-of-33). The Mountaineers played better defense in the second half by limiting the Eagles to 32.4 percent shooting from the field.

“In the second half, coach challenged us to go out and play some defense,” Mountaineers guard Kellen Brand said. “We got our hands on a couple of loose balls and we made some hustle plays that paid off.”

Despite shooting such a high percentage from the field in the first half, the Mountaineers didn’t pull away until the second. Appalachian State held a 47-44 halftime lead, and opened the second period with a 13-5 run to take a 60-49 advantage.

Georgia Southern closed to within 66-60 with 8:22 left, but never got closer. The Mountaineers went back on the attack with an 8-2 run, capped by a Jeremi Booth dunk off a Kellen Brand assist, and took a 74-62 lead that was never seriously challenged.

Booth came off the bench to lead the Mountaineers in scoring with a career-high 21 points. He hit 4-of-8 from 3-point range and 5-of-6 from the foul line.

“If you had told me he would have led us in scoring with 21 points, I probably would have had you checked into an insane asylum,” Fancher said. “Jeremy’s a talented player. He’s still learning to play within himself. He had a great, great week of practice.”

Booth’s performance allowed Appalachian State’s bench to outscore Georgia Southern’s 34-17. In Appalachian State’s last win, an 88-82 victory at home over Chattanooga, the Mountaineers’ starters scored 85 points.

Booth had 14 points the first time Appalachian State played Georgia Southern, an 95-82 Mountaineers victory.

“He’s had a pretty good year against Georgia Southern,” Fancher said.

The Mountaineers also got offense from their usual sources. Kellen Brand and Josh Hunter both scored 16 points and Donald Sims, with help of three 3-pointers, added 12 points.

ASU 86, Georgia Southern 75
Georgia Southern (8-22)
Troupe 9-18 0-0 20, Perry 4-7 1-1 9, Ward 0-2 0-0 0, Hanson 3-9 5-6 14, Drayton 6-16 2-2 15, Jaiszewski 0-0 0-0 0, Brannen 0-0 0-0 0, Marshall 3-6 0-1 6, Wohlleb 4-9 0-0 11. Totals 29-67 8-10 75.
Appalachian State (13-17)
Hunter 6-9 4-7 16, Butts 2-3 0-0 4, Sims 3-7 3-4 12, Hughes 2-4 0-0 4, Booth 6-11 5-6 21, Brand 5-11 5-8 16, Bermudez 0-0 0-0 0, Wright 3-6 1-2 8, Highsmith 0-0 0-0 0, Webb 1-2 0-0 3, Williamson 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 29-54 18-27 86.
Halftime score—ASU 47, GSU 44. 3-point goals—GSU 9-30 (Hanson 3-8, Wohlleb 3-8, Troupe 2-7, Drayton 1-5, Marshall 0-2), ASU 10-23 Booth 4-8, Sims 3-6, Brand 1-4, Wright 1-3, Webb 1-1, Hughes 0-1). Rebounds—GSU 34 (Troupe 8), ASU 36 (Hunter 8). Assists—GSU 14 (Drayton 5), ASU 19 (Sims 5). Turnovers—GSU 16, ASU 15. Total fouls—GSU 21, ASU 14. Fouled out—GSU, Marshall. Technical fouls—None. Att.—NA.