March 1, 2008

Final Stats

BOONE, N.C. (AP) -Kellen Brand scored 18 points and Donald Sims had 15 to lead Appalachian State to a 74-63 victory over Western Carolina on Saturday.l

Jake Robinson had a pair of jumpers to lead the Catamounts to an early 17-15 lead at the 11:23 mark. Appalachian State (18-12, 13-7 Southern Conference) regained the lead on a 3-pointer by Brand, and after Eric Wilson's basket gave Western Carolina (10-19, 6-13) the edge, Jeremy Clayton scored on a dunk and Sims added a layup to put the Mountaineers ahead to stay.

Western Carolina fell off the pace because of 37.9 percent shooting in the first half while Appalachian State shot at a 59 percent pace to take control, 38-28, at halftime. The Catamounts cut an 11-point gap to 53-47 after Richie Gordon converted a three-point play with 10:59 to play, but the Mountaineers cut off the rally and went on an 8-0 run to secure the win.

Robinson finished with 19 to lead Western Carolina. Negus McKenna had 14 and Wilson added 11.