Appalachian State 94, Mars Hill 81
BOONE, N.C. - Donald Sims made his first eight field goal attempts and finished the night with a game-high 33 points as Appalachian State University men's basketball defeated Mars Hill, 94-81, in an exhibition on Friday night at the Holmes Center.
The junior made 11-of-13 shots on the night and was 5-of-6 from beyond the arc. He also led the Mountaineers with four assists and three steals in 35 minutes.
Jeremi Booth also started at guard and poured in 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting. He added four rebounds, an assist and a steal. Preseason all-SoCon selection
Kellen Brand added 16 points while Marcus Wright also reached double-figures with 14.
Brand made all six free throw attempts and added three of ASU's 19 assists, while Wright made 6-of-10 from the field, swiped three steals and dished out three assits as well.
For the big men, Josh Hunter chipped in six points and six boards, to go along with four assists and three steals.
Seeing his first competitive action of the preseason, Isaac Butts hauled in 10 of ASU's 37 rebounds in 21 minutes off the bench. The center finished a fast break with a layup for his only points of the night.
Appalachian held a 46-32 halftime advantage and made its first six shots of the second half. Buzz Peterson's squad shot 56 percent from the field and sank 10-of-18 three-point attempts on the night. The team made 22-of-26 free throws and held Mars Hill to just nine foul shots in the game.
The Mountaineers stretched the lead to as many as 26 points late in the second half before a late Lion surge to pull within 13 points at the buzzer.
Stoney Polite led MHC with 21 points while Danny Sanders recorded 18 points and a team-best seven rebounds.
ASU held a 37-34 advantage on the boards.
The Apps open the regular season next Friday at home against UNC Wilmington at 7 p.m. Appalachian travels to East Tennessee State the following afternoon for a 4 p.m. showdown.
Furman 91, Newberry 68
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Junior Jordan Miller poured in 20 points to pace three Paladins in double figures as Furman downed Newberry College 91-68 in exhibition men's basketball action Friday evening on Carolina First Court at Timmons Arena.
Leading 43-33 at intermission after shooting 58 percent (15-26 ) from the field over the opening 20 minutes, Furman began the second half on a 14-4 run, capped by a Miller three-pointer with 13:31 remaining, to open up a 57-37 margin. The Paladins, who led by as many as 27 in the second half, shot 51 percent (31-61) from the floor on the night and converted on 13-of-26 three-point attempts.
Miller connected on 7-of-15 field goal attempts, including 6-of-11 from three-point range, to go with three rebounds and three assists. Juniors Justin Dehm and Amu Saaka added 15 and 13 points, respectively, while Darryl Evans and Bryson Barnes each tallied nine points for the Paladins. Saaka paced all players with eight rebounds to help Furman to a 42-41 edge on the glass and Dehm dished out a game-high six assists.
Forward Stephane Bakinde tallied a game-high 20 points, including 17 in the first half, and chipped in six rebounds for Newberry. Danny Huffor added 13 points for the scarlet and grey.
The Paladins limited Newberry to 33 percent shooting from the field and forced 22 turnovers, but Newberry managed to connect on 25-of-34 free throw attempts. Furman made good on just 16 of its 27 trips to the charity stripe and also committed 22 turnovers.
Furman begins regular season play next Friday when it hosts NCAA Division II member Lees-McRae College on Carolina First Court at Timmons Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.