BOONE, N.C. (Interstat) — Appalachian State used a balanced offensive attack to defeat Georgia Southern 89-74 in a Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Holmes Center. The Mountaineers, now 19-11, led 40-33 at halftime before pulling away in the second half before a crowd of 3,701. Luke Wilson led Appalachian State with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Alonzo Dodd added 12 points and 10 assists. Georgia Southern, which fell to 15-14, was paced by Alden Applewhite’s 24 points and seven rebounds. Tavarus Webb added 21 points and 10 rebounds. The Eagles have lost three of their last four games. Appalachian State swept the regular-season series, having also won 81-65 on Feb. 11.

BOONE, N.C. (Interstat) — Appalachian State used a dominant second-half performance and a punishing advantage at the free-throw line to pull away from Georgia Southern for an 89-74 victory in a Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Holmes Center. A crowd of 3,701 watched the Mountaineers improve to 19-11 overall and solidify their position in the league standings. The Eagles fell to 15-14. The game was a tale of two halves, with the first 20 minutes featuring six ties and 10 lead changes. Georgia Southern, fueled by the hot shooting of guards Tyren Moore and Alden Applewhite, built an early 11-5 lead. Appalachian State responded with a 17-4 run, keyed by three-pointers from Jalen Tot and Kasen Jennings, to take a 22-15 advantage. The Eagles clawed back, and the teams entered halftime separated by just seven points, with the Mountaineers leading 40-33. The most important part of the game came early in the second half when Appalachian State decisively seized control. After Georgia Southern’s Tavarus Webb hit two free throws to cut the deficit to 45-43 with 18:34 remaining, the Mountaineers unleashed a 12-2 surge over the next three and a half minutes. The run was emblematic of their entire afternoon, featuring inside baskets from Luke Wilson, free throws from Alonzo Dodd and a three-pointer from Eren Banks. That spurt pushed the lead to 57-45, and the Eagles never got within single digits again. Appalachian State’s methodical dismantling of the Georgia Southern defense was built on efficiency and aggression. The Mountaineers shot 51% from the field and, most critically, attempted 37 free throws, making 29. In contrast, Georgia Southern went to the line only 16 times, making 14. The Mountaineers scored 29 points from the stripe, a 15-point advantage over the Eagles in that category alone. Luke Wilson, a 6-foot-9 forward from Augusta, Georgia, was the top star for Appalachian State, posting a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds in 27 minutes. His interior presence and work on the glass were pivotal, especially during the game-breaking run. Point guard Alonzo Dodd orchestrated the offense masterfully, dishing out 10 assists to go with 12 points. Georgia Southern was led by a pair of standout individual efforts. Alden Applewhite, a 6-foot-7 forward from Memphis, Tennessee, scored a game-high 24 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Tavarus Webb, a guard from Hartwell, Georgia, recorded a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Tyren Moore added 21 points and five assists for the Eagles. Despite the strong performances from Applewhite and Webb, Georgia Southern struggled with offensive cohesion, managing only five assists as a team and shooting 40% from the field. Appalachian State’s defense forced 11 turnovers and limited the Eagles’ second-chance opportunities, with each team securing eight offensive rebounds. The victory gave Appalachian State a regular-season sweep of Georgia Southern, having also won 81-65 in Statesboro on Feb. 11. The Mountaineers will conclude their regular season on the road at Texas State next Friday. Georgia Southern, which has lost three of its last four games, faces a quick turnaround with road games at James Madison on Wednesday and at Marshall next Friday. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Appalachian State was projected with an 83.2% probability to win. The combined score of 163 points went well over the pregame over/under line of 146.

BOONE, N.C. (Interstat) — A critical Sun Belt Conference rematch awaits Saturday when Appalachian State hosts Georgia Southern at Holmes Center, just 10 days after the Mountaineers secured a decisive road victory in the series. The Mountaineers (18-11, 10-6 Sun Belt) aim to solidify their standing near the top of the league and sweep the regular-season series, while the Eagles (15-13, 8-8) seek revenge and a resume-boosting road win to improve their conference tournament seeding. Appalachian State won the first meeting 81-65 in Statesboro on Feb. 11, leading by as many as 23 points. The Mountaineers have won four of their last six, though they are coming off a narrow 94-93 home loss to Marshall on Thursday. Guard Alonzo Dodd has been a consistent force, averaging 18.1 points and 4.9 assists over his last seven games. He scored 18 points in the earlier win over Georgia Southern. The Eagles have lost five of their last seven, including a heartbreaking 66-64 defeat at Georgia State on Thursday. Their offense runs through guard Tyren Moore, who is capable of explosive performances. He scored 32 points in a win over Marshall on Feb. 14 but was held to 17 points by Appalachian State’s defense in the first matchup. Georgia Southern’s challenge will be generating consistent offense beyond Moore and improving a defense that allowed the Mountaineers to shoot 50% from the field earlier this month. Appalachian State will look to control the tempo and leverage its home-court advantage, where it is 11-3 this season. The 2 p.m. EST tipoff on Saturday, Feb. 21, marks the final scheduled home game of the regular season for Appalachian State, adding an emotional Senior Day element to the high-stakes conference clash.