Boone, North Carolina – After a 3-0 week, the App State Mountaineers (4-2) will test their ability to win three straight when they host their arch-rival ETSU Buccaneers (3-3) at the Holmes Center on Wednesday. Become. on wednesday. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.
The Mountaineers improved to 3-0 last week, including a 30-point victory over mid-sized power UNC Wilmington in Fort Myers last Tuesday, marking App State’s first three-game winning streak of the season. In those three games, the Mountaineers outscored their opponents by 60 points, marking their largest margin of victory in three consecutive games since early last year, when they outscored their opponents by a combined 68 points in the first three games.
Wednesday’s matchup between the Mountaineers and Buccaneers will be the fifth consecutive matchup for App State, which has appeared in the NCAA Tournament each of the past eight years. The Black & Gold have won each of their last three games during this span, making them 3-1 overall.
match up
- Who: App State vs. ETSU
- Location: Holmes Convocation Center // Boone, North Carolina
- Date: Wednesday, November 29th // 6:30 p.m.
Please tune in
- Watch: ESPN+
- Listening: 97.3 WKBC, 96.5/1450 WATA, 790/93.7 WETB, 1250/103.9 WBRM
- Live stats: appstatesports.com
final timeout
Last Sunday, App State defeated Austin Peay 78-58, marking the Black & Gold’s 200th win in the Holmes Convocation Center era. The Mountaineers dominated from start to finish, winning their third straight game.
Trevon Spillers He continued his aggressive attack against the Governors, dropping 20 points on 9-for-13 shooting, a season and career high for a Mountaineer. Spillers has led App State in scoring in half of App State’s games this season and has scored in double figures in each of the past three contests.
Defensively, the Mountaineers held the Governors to just 36 percent from the field, making it the third consecutive game in which App State held under 40 percent shooting for the entire game. After struggling on defense earlier this year, the Mountaineers have picked up steam and haven’t allowed more than 60 points since Nov. 14.
Climber’s scout
App State has scored 70 points or more in five of the first six games this season and has had no trouble finding the basket so far. The Mountaineers haven’t accomplished that feat since the 2018-19 season. Additionally, the Black & Gold has outscored his opponents with his impressive score of 98 points in his four wins.
The Mountaineers have the second-largest scoring differential in the Sun Belt Conference entering Wednesday’s game at 12.5 and play complementary basketball. App State ranks second in the conference in scoring defense and has the fourth-highest scoring offense in the SBC.
App State’s depth has been a major factor so far this season, as nine players typically see the floor each night. The Mountaineers have had nine players score at least two points in four of six games this season and have had at least three players score in double figures in each of the last 12 games.
Defensively, the Mountaineers are one of the best teams in the nation in blocked shots, averaging 6.2 blocked shots per game, the eighth-best mark in the nation. Sophomore forward Justin Abson He ranks fifth in the nation in blocks per game and is one of five players in the NCAA to average at least three blocks starting Wednesday.
buccaneers scouting
ETSU is 3-3 on the season and has won two of its last three games. The Buccaneers went 1-1 in last week’s Viking Invitational, lost to host Cleveland State on Wednesday, and beat Alabama A&M last Friday.
The Buccaneers currently have three players averaging double-digit points, with Ebby Asamoah leading the way, scoring 16.5 points per night. ETSU has scored at least 70 points in five of his first six games this year and is a good offensive team.
First-year head coach Brooks Savage, in his first stint as a head coach at the collegiate level, has contributed to 170 wins as an assistant.app state head coach dustin kearns Savage was an assistant at Presbyterian in 2011-2012, and Kearns got his start as a head coach there, so he and Savage have followed a bit of the same path.
Series history
The Mountaineers and Buccaneers will meet for the 129th time on Wednesday, rekindling a rivalry that dates back to 1927. App State has played ETSU more than any other opponent in the 2023-24 season. The Buccaneers lead the series with 48 wins and 80 losses, but the Mountaineers have won the past two championships.
donovan gregory He has started against the Buccaneers twice in his career. Gregory had 26 points and six assists in his career against ETSU.
Buccaneer guard Ebby Asamoah, who switched sides, has played against the Black and Gold during his career, playing against them as a member of the Delaware Blue Hens at the Gulf Coast Showcase in Estero, Florida. Asamoah played 20 minutes in the game and scored three points.
Next is next
Next up on App State’s schedule is a nationally televised App State home game vs. the Auburn Tigers. It will be the first time in 23 years that the Holmes center will face a top-major opponent. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN2.