GREENSBORO, N.C. - Omar Carter sank two free throws with 25 seconds remaining in overtime to break a tie and propel Appalachian State University men’s basketball to an 80-78 win at UNC Greensboro on Wednesday night at the Greensboro Coliseum.
Carter accomplished the same feat in regulation as the Mountaineers (9-13, 5-7 SoCon) trailed by two with just over a minute left. The pair of shots knotted the game at 68-68 as each team missed shots on their final possessions. The contest was back-and-forth all night with 16 lead changes and 17 ties. Including the extra period, neither team led by more than three points for the game’s final 18 minutes.
The overtime period was a thriller in itself with three lead changes and four ties. The Spartans (4-17, 4-7 SoCon) opened the extra frame with a layup resulting from an errant jump ball. Marcus Wright then sank a three-pointer for his only basket of the night and followed with a free throw to knot the game at 72-72.
Donald Sims then gave the visitors a 78-76 edge on a layup with 1:50 to play. Kyle Randall then tied up the game with a layup on the other end with 44 ticks left on the clock.
Carter then drew a foul while driving to the basket on the other end and sank both fateful free throws. The junior then blocked a Randall shot attempt at the other end with 10 seconds left, knocking the rebound to Andre Williamson, who was immediately fouled.
After both free throws rimmed out, the rebound was tipped out of bounds in UNCG’s favor for one final possession. Jeremi Booth defended Brandon Evans for the final eight seconds, whose jumper from the right side fell short at the buzzer.
Carter anchored the Mountaineer offense with 26 points on 10-of-18 shooting. The junior recorded his second double-double of the season with 12 of ASU’s 46 rebounds.
Sims chipped in 23 points on 9-of-22 shooting to boost his career point total to 1,998.. He added six rebounds and dished out a team-best five assists. Booth also reached double figures with 13 points on 4-of-10 shooting and a 4-of-5 mark from the charity stripe.
On the night, ASU shot 43.3 percent from the field and sank 4-of-18 treys, compared to 45.6 percent field goals by the Spartans and a 4-of-13 mark from downtown.
Appalachian’s 46 rebounds were the most in Southern Conference play this season, as Williamson hauled in nine boards and Mitch Woods hauled in with six to accompany his four assists and a steal.
Evans finshed with a double-double for UNCG, notching 17 points and 11 rebounds. Aloysius Henry came off the bench to lead the home team with 26 points on 11-of-17 shooting to accompany eight boards. His output accounted for the bulk of UNCG’s 36 bench points.
Randall added 10 points, six of UNCG’s 13 assists and five of the team’s 38 rebounds on the night.
The Mountaineers worked up to a 21-11 advantage in the first half before the Spartans erased the deficit with 10-straight points in fewer than three minutes.
Appalachian closes out its current three-game road trip and looks for a season sweep when the squad travels to Elon on Saturday for a 7 p.m. contest. It is ASU’s final road SoCon game of the season.
Carter accomplished the same feat in regulation as the Mountaineers (9-13, 5-7 SoCon) trailed by two with just over a minute left. The pair of shots knotted the game at 68-68 as each team missed shots on their final possessions. The contest was back-and-forth all night with 16 lead changes and 17 ties. Including the extra period, neither team led by more than three points for the game’s final 18 minutes.
The overtime period was a thriller in itself with three lead changes and four ties. The Spartans (4-17, 4-7 SoCon) opened the extra frame with a layup resulting from an errant jump ball. Marcus Wright then sank a three-pointer for his only basket of the night and followed with a free throw to knot the game at 72-72.
Donald Sims then gave the visitors a 78-76 edge on a layup with 1:50 to play. Kyle Randall then tied up the game with a layup on the other end with 44 ticks left on the clock.
Carter then drew a foul while driving to the basket on the other end and sank both fateful free throws. The junior then blocked a Randall shot attempt at the other end with 10 seconds left, knocking the rebound to Andre Williamson, who was immediately fouled.
After both free throws rimmed out, the rebound was tipped out of bounds in UNCG’s favor for one final possession. Jeremi Booth defended Brandon Evans for the final eight seconds, whose jumper from the right side fell short at the buzzer.
Carter anchored the Mountaineer offense with 26 points on 10-of-18 shooting. The junior recorded his second double-double of the season with 12 of ASU’s 46 rebounds.
Sims chipped in 23 points on 9-of-22 shooting to boost his career point total to 1,998.. He added six rebounds and dished out a team-best five assists. Booth also reached double figures with 13 points on 4-of-10 shooting and a 4-of-5 mark from the charity stripe.
On the night, ASU shot 43.3 percent from the field and sank 4-of-18 treys, compared to 45.6 percent field goals by the Spartans and a 4-of-13 mark from downtown.
Appalachian’s 46 rebounds were the most in Southern Conference play this season, as Williamson hauled in nine boards and Mitch Woods hauled in with six to accompany his four assists and a steal.
Evans finshed with a double-double for UNCG, notching 17 points and 11 rebounds. Aloysius Henry came off the bench to lead the home team with 26 points on 11-of-17 shooting to accompany eight boards. His output accounted for the bulk of UNCG’s 36 bench points.
Randall added 10 points, six of UNCG’s 13 assists and five of the team’s 38 rebounds on the night.
The Mountaineers worked up to a 21-11 advantage in the first half before the Spartans erased the deficit with 10-straight points in fewer than three minutes.
Appalachian closes out its current three-game road trip and looks for a season sweep when the squad travels to Elon on Saturday for a 7 p.m. contest. It is ASU’s final road SoCon game of the season.
