We're live from ASU for this afternoon's Southern Conference contest between Appalachian State (7-11, 4-6 SoCon) and Furman (3-16, 1-9 SoCon). ASU is playing without a pair of players, as it was announced just before gametime that Ryann Abraham and Eduardo Bermudez have been suspended indefinitely due to conduct detrimental to the team. Donterious Hughes and Tyler Webb get the start for the Apps today.Quick Notes: Furman is coming off a loss to Western Carolina, while ASU fell in its last game out, a 74-68 loss to Wofford. Local Watauga High School standout Zach Greene is on the roster for the Furman Paladins. The coaching staff for the Mountaineers, as well as the Furman staff are wearing sneakers on the sideline as part of the Coaches Vs. Cancer program.
We'll be bringing updates throughout today's contest, so stay tuned!
3:40 PM - At the first TV timeout, the Mountaineers lead the contest 11-7. Kellen Brand has six of the Mountaineers' points, with the other five coming off the hands of Tyler Webb. Brand has also picked up a pair of personal fouls in the first four minutes, relegating him to the ASU bench. Jeremi Booth will need to step up to help the Mountaineers on both ends of the floor without the team's leading scorer and short two other players on the bench.
3:50 PM - Official timeout at 10:23 remaining in the first half. Furman has cut the lead to a single point at 17-16. It has been a balanced scoring effort for the Paladins. Marcus Wright hit a three-pointer off the bench, while Ike Butts added a pair inside.
3:57 PM - 6:54 remains before halftime. ASU leads by four at 22-18. Both teams were shooting an identical 46.2% at the last TV timeout, with ASU lighting it up from the perimeter in hitting four of its first six three-point shot attempts. Marcus Wright added another bucket during the last four minutes of play.
Furman takes a timeout at the 4:27 mark after ASU opens up a 29-20 lead. A steal by Donterious Hughes and three shots on the ensuing possession entices the Furman head coach to take a timeout.
4:05 PM - with 3:47 left before halftime the Mountaineers score another pair to lead by 11 points at 31-20. ASU's defense has stiffened up, forcing a couple of turnovers. Webb and Donald Sims each have five points in the half, while Justin Dehm has eight for the Paladins.
4:15 PM - At the half, the Mountaineers lead 37-26. It wasn't the prettiest half of basketball, but the Mountaineers were effective from the perimeter, and also was able to work the ball inside as Tyler Webb put up seven points with five each from Sims and Wright. Dehm has 11 to lead the Paladins.
During the halftime break ASU basketball alumni were honored, with specific recognition of the 1979 ASU basketball squad that earned the first NCAA berth in school history.
Halftime statistics:
Appalachian shot 50% (14 for 28) from the field for the half, while holding the Paladins to only 10 of 26 shooting (38.5%). Webb and Butts lead the Mountaineers with seven points each, while Butts has pulled in nine rebounds. Other than Dehm, no other Paladin player has scored more than four points in the first half. Appalachian outrebounded the Paladins 20-11 in the first 20 minutes of play.
Second half play will be coming up!
Just a quick programming note that the Cloudland Highlanders high school basketball teams will be hosting the Johnson County Longhorns this evening from Sonny Smith Gymnasium in Roan Mountain.
4:40 PM - The Mountaineers have extended their lead to as much at 45-29, but a '3' from the Paladins entices ASU coach Houston Fancher to take a timeout to talk to his club. With 15:50 left in the contest, the Mountaineers lead 47-35. Donald Sims has 11 points to match Furman's Dehm.
4:55 PM - Furman was forced to take a timeout when unable to in-bound the basketball. A short time after the timeout, Neil Duval was stuffed on a dunk attempt as Tyler Webb rejected the Furman forward. It's always a great atmosphere at the Black Hole, and the students continue to show great support for their Apps. 10:33 remains in the game, and the Mountaineers lead by a 57-45 score. Butts has a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Mountaineers as he earns a living inside. Sims still has 11, with nine from Webb and six from Booth
5:03 PM - 6:56 left at Holmes with the Mountaineers leading 63-50. ASU has managed well without two of its star players, but the Paladins continue to hang around.
5:10 PM - Furman has made a comeback behind the shooting of Jordan Miller. He knocks down a jumper to cut the ASU lead to 67-60, forcing Coach Fancher to ask for a 30-second timeout with 4:15 left. Sims and Butts are the two Mountaineers in double-figures with 13 and 16, respectively. The media timeout comes at 3:46 remaining and the Apps lead it by the same seven-point margin. Ike Butts is having a monster game with 16 points and 16 boards.
Furman has cut the lead to 74-67 after a pair of free throws by Jordan Miller as the game clock ticks under two minutes. Miller picks the pocket of Donald Sims and drives for a layup to cut the lead to five. A backcourt violation by ASU gives the ball to Furman with the opportunity to make it a 2 or 3 point game with 1:37 to go. App takes a timeout.
5:22 PM -- After a blocking foul on Josh Hunter, Bryson Barnes steps up to the line and makes a pair of free throws to make the score 74-71 with 1:14 left to play. Furman takes a timeout to talk over strategy on defense. ASU ball leading by three.
5:25 PM - Barnes of Furman is called for a foul on a driving layup attempt by Kellen Brand. Brand hits one of two free throws with 40.6 seconds to go to give ASU a 75-71 lead. Furman's Noah States misses a three-point shot and Josh Hunter grabs the rebound and is immediately fouled with 22.4 seconds left.
Hunter misses both free throws to keep Furman alive down four. Barnes drives into the lane for a quick layup to cut the lead to 75-73 with 16.5 seconds left. Timeout Furman. ASU basketball. ASU inbounds the ball, but Donald Sims is trapped in the backcourt and ASU takes a timeout. 8.5 seconds remain with the Mountaineers up a deuce. The ball is inbounded to Sims and he is immediately fouled by Anderson of Furman. Two free throws for Sims. Sims hits both free throws to make it a four point game again at 77-73 with 8.0 seconds left.
5:30 PM - Anderson quickly drives down the floor and hits a layup to again cut the lead to 2 with 3.3 seconds left. Donterious Hughes cannot get the ball inbounds after the make, so he has to take a timeout. 77-75 ASU with 3.3 seconds left. ASU gets the ball in to Booth who runs out the clock. 77-75, ASU wins it over Furman. ASU advances to 8-11 on the season and 5-6 in SoCon play. That's it from Boone. Thanks for checking out the Blog!
