The Mountaineers will next be in action next Saturday in Chapel Hill, where it will take on No. 6 ranked North Carolina. The AJ-T is working to be on-hand to provide coverage from the Smith Center.
Until next time, thanks for reading!
Update #11: ETSU still holds a double-figure lead at 57-45 with 3:10 remaining. Milum appears to be the only Mountaineer with the outside touch as he has connected on a pair of three-point shots. ETSU made only two of its first 13 field goals this half, yet is able to maintain its advantage.
Update #10: ASU has put together a couple of defensive stops and has cut the lead to as low as it has been since the early minutes of the game, trailing 51-40 with 7:41 left in the game. The Mountaineers can still make this game interesting with another couple of defensive shutdowns. At one point in the game, ETSU held a 17-0 advantage in points off turnovers and holds a 30-12 advantage in the paint. A technical foul on Ike Butts for arguing a call, as well as a Rodney Milum three-pointer seems to have sparked the offense.
Update #9: ASU has drawn to within 49-34 with 11:26 to play in the contest. The Mountaineers are struggling with its shot from the perimeter, while ETSU has been efficient with the ball, committing only three turnovers thus far for the game. ETSU's Brown has paced the Bucs with 15 points, while Jamaal Trice leads ASU with nine points.
Update #$: Just over four minutes into the second half, and ETSU maintains an advantage at 48-30. ASU is showing improvement on the boards, but the Bucs continue to keep up the pressure defensively, making life difficult for the Mountaineers on offense. Coach Capel benched several starters to begin the second half, perhaps to send a message or to give them motivation to help the team narrow its deficit.
Update #7: At intermission, ETSU leads 43-24, as a three-pointer at the buzzer off ASU's 11th turnover of the half typifies the frustration of the Mountaineers on both sides of the floor.
We'll have some halftime stats shortly.
Update #6: 2:26 remains in the half, with ETSU leading 38-21. Turnovers have made life difficult for ASU, while ETSU continues to shoot around 50 percent for the half offensively.ETSU has dominated in the paint, outscoring ASU 24-4 inside through this near-complete first half. ASU must do a better job of establishing inside presence to cut into the Buc lead.
Update #5: It's danger time for the Mountaineers, as ETSU has opened up a commanding 36-19 lead using defense and strong offensive execution. It's almost as if the Bucs are a step ahead of ASU on both ends of the floor. Capel takes a timeout with 3:43 left as ETSU holds a 17-point lead.
Update #4: ASU is slowly crawling back into the contest, trailing 25-16 to ETSU with 7:28 to play in the opening half. Tab Hamilton has picked up six points off the bench to help the Mountaineers stay in the game thus far.
Update #3: An ETSU scoring run and some sloppy defense forces ASU to take a timeout at the 9:51 mark trailing 21-7. ETSU has been aggressively attacking the basket and getting numerous second-chance offensive rebounds.
Update #2: 11:34 remains in the first half and the Buccaneers have seized control of the game, leading 14-5. ASU already has six team fouls to ETSU's 1. Coach Jason Capel has dipped into his bench quite a bit thus far in the opening eight minutes. Isiah Brown of ETSU leads all scorers with five points.
Update #1: At the first official timeout ETSU leads 6-2. ASU has committed a number of turnovers thus far, and has had a couple of mental lapses on defense. ETSU is an athletic team that matches up well with the Mountaineers, meaning today's game has the potential to remain a tight contest throughout.
LIVE at Holmes Convocation Center this afternoon for hoops action between East Tennessee State and Appalachian State. ASU fell to ETSU in the first meeting earlier this season between the schools.
ASU is coming off a loss at Minnesota earlier this week, and stands with a record of 4-4 on the season. ETSU, a member of Atlantic Sun Conference, has a 3-5 record and is entering Boone on a four-game losing skid, most recently falling 83-74 to Tennessee Tech.
We'll have updated action throughout the contest, along with additional information and tidbits along the way. Thanks for reading!
