Sharp-shooter Jeremi Booth will look to add to Monday's 12-point outing on Saturday against WCU (Photo: ASU Athletics) Game statistics

Mountaineers Begin February in Cullowhee
by Appalachian Sports Information

February 1, 2008 - CULLOWHEE, N.C. - After tearing through January with an 8-1 record, Appalachain State men's basketball will begin the month of February with its 168th game against rival Western Carolina Saturday evening in Cullowhee.

The Apps enter the 168th edition of the series as winners of eight of their last nine games with a 13-7 overall record and an 8-3 mark in league action.

In the series against the Catamounts, the Apps hold a 105-62 advantage and have won seven-straight games against their rival. Redshirt-senior Jay McMillan is the only current Mountaineer that has seen WCU win a game in the series.

ASU navigated the January portion of its schedule with an 8-1 record after defeating Elon, 56-52, at home on Monday evening. Only three teams in the nation posted more wins in the month than the Mountaineers.

Jeremy Clayton led the squad in the tight victory over Elon with 12 points and a career-high 17 rebounds in 39 minutes of action.

ASU is 8-5 on the road this season and 4-2 in SoCon play, second to only Davidson in SoCon road wins this season and tied for fifth in nation in road/neutral site victories this season.

The Catamounts remain at home after falling to Georgia Southern, 69-58, on Monday to drop to 6-14 overall and 2-8 in league play.

WCU has fallen in four of its last five games and is shooting 39.6 percent this season, the worst mark in the league. Brandon Giles is the team’s leading scorer at 14.8 points and four rebounds per game.

Following the WCU game, the Mountaineers will return home for a three-game homestand that begins on Thursday with a 7 p.m. game against College of Charleston.