A 17-point swing in the second half propelled Appalachian State University past Georgia Southern

University today in Boone, N.C.

Redshirt junior guard Jelani Hewitt scored his 1,000th career point in the 81-68 loss. The Mountaineers’

(5-13, 1-4 SoCon) drubbing of the Eagles (9-10, 1-2 SoCon) is their first conference victory of the season

and first win this season over a Division I opponent.

Senior guard Tre Bussey, who came into today averaging over 18 points per game, only needed 10 to

join Hewitt in the 1,000-point club. He finished 1-6 from the floor with three points.

GSU came out of halftime trailing by eight points but fought its way back to within one, 47-46, with 11:

52 remaining. However, for the next seven minutes, the Eagles could not buy a point meanwhile the

Mountaineers found them almost nearly every possession. ASU went on a 23-6 run that broke the game

open. In the duration of the run the Eagles went 0-7 from the field with two turnovers.

The Mountaineers did all of this without the services of junior forward Jay Canty. Canty, who is out with

a nagging wrist injury, is ASU’s most efficient player averaging 17.6 ppg.

Turnovers , both getting them and not allowing them are always a key for teams that rely on defense

to win games. GSU came into today giving up the ball only 12 times per game on average, but handed it

over 16 times.

Senior guard Brian Holmes had a standout performance scoring a game-high 21 points. Holmes was

deadly from three-point territory; he knocked down 6 of 10 and was the most consistent player on the

floor.

Losing to the Mountaineers puts GSU in the company of schools such as: Lees-McRae College, North

Greenville University, Milligan College and Bluefield College.

The Eagles will be back in action on Thursday at home against Wofford College.