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January 9, 2025AP-Newswatch
January 9, 2025MBB: Mountaineers Throttle Chanticleers to pick up Second Straight Win
Jan. 8, 2025
Contact: Jacob Plecker (pl*******@ap******.edu)
Box Score: Attached
Postgame Press Conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9dKRB7XR8g
BOONE, N.C. – Despite frigid conditions outside in Boone, the App State Mountaineers (8-7, 2-2 SBC) lit up the Holmes Center on Wednesday, making 10 threes at a 43 percent clip and dominating the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (8-8, 1-3 SBC) to a score of 74-51. App State’s 51 points allowed marked the second-fewest the team has given up in a game against a Division I opponent this season.
The 23-point win marked App State’s second consecutive double-digit win and the fifth win by at least 10 points at home this season. Since the start of last season, the Mountaineers have tallied 17 double-digit victories on their home floor. Additionally, it was App State’s third straight win over the Chanticleers by at least 20 points.
App State drilled 10 threes on 23 attempts in the game against Coastal Carolina, the second straight game and sixth time this season that the Mountaineers have hit at least 10 threes in a game. Entering the game, the Chanticleers boasted the 12th-best defense against the three, keeping their opponents to just 28 percent from the long line, but the swift offense of the Mountaineers led to several open looks.
Just three days after recording his first career double-double, CJ Huntley recorded his best overall game of the season with 21 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. Huntley’s energy was on full display early as he reached his double-double before the first half ended, tallying 11 points and 11 rebounds in the opening frame. Overall, nine players found the basket against Coastal Carolina with Myles Tate and Jalil Beaubrun joining Huntley in double figures.
How it Happened
In the third game of the Mountaineers’ season-long four-game homestand, Beaubrun opened the scoring, getting a deep paint touch and converting a layup. Coastal Carolina responded to tie the game at two, but Huntley’s first of four 3-pointers rattled home from the left wing to put App State up 5-2 early.
After the Chanticleers tied the score at five apiece, a Beaubrun free throw put the Mountaineers back ahead by one point. The 5-5 tie would be the last time the score was tied again as App State took command after the first media break. The Mountaineers led for 38 minutes in the game.
Out of the timeout, Michael Marcus Jr. started his night by scoring down in the paint before Tate’s slick one-handed layup while being fouled put the Mountaineers up six by the 11:51 mark. App State’s run continued to a 10-0 mark after Tate and Huntley both converted baskets. Then, it was Jackson Threadgill who put the Mountaineers up 13 as he buried a three.
Off a steal in the backcourt by Alonzo Dodd, a long outlet pass that was caught by Jamil Muttilib resulted in another and-one chance as Muttilib converted a fastbreak layup to cap off a 15-0 run by App State. During this stretch, App State forced seven straight missed shots while Coastal Carolina turned the ball over three times. By the time the run was over, the Mountaineers led 24-7.
Despite the Chanticleers ending the run with a Josh Meo basket, the Mountaineers quickly went up 20 points thanks to a three by Marcus and a dunk slammed home by Huntley. Dodd got involved in the action, scoring a layup and after another Huntley score, the Mountaineers ballooned their lead to 25 points. The 25-point lead by the Mountaineers marked their largest lead against a Division I opponent this season.
Coastal Carolina scored to break what was an extended 26-5 run with a three and eventually brought their deficit back to within 18 after Jordan Battle scored a layup. But the Mountaineers answered Coastal Carolina’s momentum by getting an open look from Dior Conners which he converted to put App State back ahead by 20 with 1:25 to play. Three free throws by Battle sent action to halftime with the Mountaineers up 18.
App State allowed just 19 first-half points, which is the fewest it has allowed in a half this season. Additionally, the Chanticleers made just one first-half 3-pointer and shot just 25 percent from the field. Offensively, the Mountaineers were led by Huntley’s 11 points and 11 rebounds, his second consecutive double-double. Tate added seven while Marcus poured in five. Overall, eight players scored in the first half.
Tate’s layup in the paint sent App State back ahead by 20 early in the second half. A Battle three brought the Chanticleer deficit back within 20, but after a scuffle for a loose ball on the other end that led to a fastbreak chance, Beaubrun capped off the runout with a huge two-handed slam to put App State up 22 points with 18:01 to play.
With the Mountaineers up 19 at the first media timeout of the second half, Coastal Carolina began to find itself offensively, going on a 7-1 run to pull back within 15 by the 11:51 mark. The Chanticleers netted three field goals in four attempts to pull them back into it. Not allowing the run to continue, Huntley buried another three from the corner to send App State ahead 18 by the under-12 timeout.
Another basket by Huntley swelled the Mountaineer advantage back to 20, but Coastal Carolina was able to trim its deficit back to 16 by the under-eight break. A flurry of fouls by the Mountaineers helped the Chanticleers cut the Mountaineer lead down to 14 with just seven minutes to play, but the fourth Huntley three of the game rang true to cap the run and put the Mountaineers back ahead 17.
A pair of threes from Tate deep in the shot clock pushed App State back ahead by 21 by the 3:55 mark of the final frame as the Mountaineers scored seven straight points. Then, it was a Conners three that delivered a final punch to Coastal Carolina as App State led by 22 at the under-four break.
Beaubrun capped off his evening by converting a pair of free throws to give him his final tally of 11, which allowed head coach Dustin Kerns to empty his bench. Luke Wilson tallied his first bucket since Dec. 14 to give the Mountaineers their final score of 74 and secured a dominant 23-point win over Coastal Carolina at the Holmes Center.
Top Performers
Just a few days after recording his first career double-double, CJ Huntley bested that performance on Wednesday, leading all scorers with 21 points and adding a career-high 15 rebounds. He is only the third Sun Belt player this season to post a 15-rebound game. Myles Tate followed Huntley with 17 points while also adding a game-high seven assists and two steals. Beaubrun added 11 points with most of his damage coming at the charity stripe as he converted 7-10 free-throw attempts for the game.
Up Next
App State will conclude its season-long four-game homestand by welcoming the James Madison Dukes to the Holmes Center on Saturday. Saturday’s game is a stripe out and fans are encouraged to wear either black or gold based on their ticket location. Tipoff from the Holmes Center is set for 1 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+.
The 2024-25 men’s basketball season is presented by Foscoe Companies.
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App State Athletics Strategic Communications
425 Jack Branch Drive
Boone, NC, 28608
www.appstatesports.com
