Mountaineers topple Panthers 74-69
Eaves leads App State with career-high 27 points

Posted: Saturday, January 17, 2015 7:52 pm
Tommy Bowman/Winston-Salem Journal

BOONE - On the surface, Appalachian State wasn’t facing an easy assignment Saturday in its attempt to end a four-game losing streak. But the Mountaineers dug deep and were opportunistic — knocking off Georgia State 74-69 at Holmes Center.

It was a significant victory for the Mountaineers — against the team picked to win the Sun Belt Conference after going 17-1 in league play last season, and against a team with an all-star trio of guards in Ryan Harrow, R.J. Hunter and Kevin Ware. And it came in front of the biggest home crowd of the season, a gathering of 2,622 that seemed to appreciate what they saw from a program trying to get its footing under a new coach and in a new league.

“They showed toughness for all 10 rounds today,” Jim Fox, the Mountaineers’ coach, said of his players. “They didn’t let adversity affect them today. They battled back and deserved this.”
The Mountaineers (5-10 overall, 2-4 Sun Belt) trailed by as many as 13 points. They hit just 37 percent of their shots —compared to Georgia State’s 58 — but found ways to win.

Tommy Spagnolo, the Mountaineers’ lone senior, supplied the go-ahead points with an emphatic dunk on a feed from Frank Eaves with 21 seconds left.

Eaves, a junior who played all 40 minutes and scored a career-high 27 points, said that he anticipated Georgia State expecting him to take a perimeter shot on that critical possession, and that a head fake provided an opening for a drive, which drew another defender and helped free Spagnolo.

“Tommy had been finishing excellent, so I had to get him the ball,” Eaves said.
Spagnolo said: “Frank did a great job drawing the defense, dumped it down and that’s an easy finish.”
Spagnolo’s finish was a no-doubter.

“Nobody stands for what App basketball should be about more than Tommy,” Fox said. “He’s tough. He just wills you to win.”

Georgia State (11-7, 4-3) had final opportunities but failed. Hunter missed a 3-point attempt with 6 seconds left. Then, after Spagnolo hit two free throws to boost the lead to 72-69, the Panthers had one last chance.

Fox said that he considered fouling, but credited his assistants for their scouting report and felt secure what Georgia State might try to do. He positioned defenders accordingly, and guessed right.
As it was, Ware’s inbounds attempt toward midcourt skipped through the legs of intended receiver Markus Crider and into the hands of Spagnolo.

“We got a little lucky there at the end, the guy went through the 5 hole, so we’ll take it,” Fox said. “We’ve earned some luck.”

Ron Hunter, the Panthers’ coach, didn’t want to comment after the game.
The Mountaineers offset the glaring gap in shooting percentage with 15 more field-goal attempts than the Panthers, largely as result of 17 offensive rebounds.

“You look at us, and we can be a little challenged offensively,” Fox said. “But when you get those second shots, it helps us and it’s deflating to the defense.”

Eaves and Chris Burgess gave the Mountaineers needed outside presence. They combined to go 12 of 23 from 3-point range against Georgia State’s zone defenses.

“We made 12 3s because they forced us to take 3s,” Fox said. “But we made them.”

Eaves was 8 of 14 from 3-point range. He had never made more than three in a college game.
“Honestly, I don’t think I’ve shot that well since I’ve been here,” Eaves said. “In high school, 3-point shooting was what I was known for.… We finally knocked down our shots like I knew we could.”
And, Fox said, the Mountaineers’ 16 assists for 22 field goals was “huge.”

The Panthers shot a remarkable 78 percent in the first half, but cooled to 36 percent in the second and scored on just four of their last 14 possessions.

Harrow led the Panthers with 21 points. Hunter added 16. Crider had 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Ware totaled five assists.

Spagnolo, who hit 12 of 13 free throws, scored 22 points. Burgess totaled 14 points and five assists, and Jake Babic had five assists.

“This is a great jump start,” Spagnolo said. “We’re headed back on the road now and this gives us great energy and great confidence.”

tbowman@wsjournal.com

GEORGIA STATE — Crider 5-7 2-2 12, Washington 0-2 2-4 2, Green 2-4 2-2 7, Hunter 5-10 5-6 16, Harrow 9-14 3-3 21, Ware 1-2 0-2 2, Dennis 1-1 0-0 2, Brown 1-2 0-2 3, Session 2-3 0-2 4. Totals 26-45 14-23 69.

APPALACHIAN STATE — Obacha 1-2 1-4 3, Spagnolo 5-11 12-13 22, Clarke 0-1 0-0 0, Burgess 4-9 2-2 14, Eaves 8-19 3-4 27, Goesling 0-0 0-0 0, Kinney 2-4 0-0 4, Kostic 1-3 0-0 2, Babic 0-5 0-1 0, Lawson 1-6 0-0 2. Totals 22-60 18-24 74.

Halftime — Georgia State 40-30. 3-Point Goals — Georgia State 3-9 (Brown 1-2, Green 1-3, Hunter 1-3, Harrow 0-1), Appalachian 12-29 (Eaves 8-14, Burgess 4-9, Clarke 0-1, Kostic 0-2, Babic 0-3). Fouled Out — None. Rebounds — Georgia State 30 (Crider 10), Appalachian 36 (Eaves, Spagnolo 6). Assists — Georgia State 8 (Ware 5), Appalachian 16 (Babic, Burgess 5). Total Fouls — Georgia State 24, Appalachian 20. Technical — Ware. A — 2,622.

What a great win for the program and it couldn't come at a better time. Way to battle Apps!!

Sounds like their coach is a sore loser

mtnjax wrote:Sounds like their coach is a sore loser

He was moaning and groaning all night long. I can't say I was impressed with the overall demeanor of their team. Watching the team's go through the line at game's end, you got the sense that they weren't very gracious losers.

Ron Hunter looked like he should be a comedian, judging by his sideline behavior. His team appears to play like their superior talent will win games alone. They weren't ready for the a team that wouldn't quit.

They played soft and we didn't. Harrow is very talented but he spent too much admiring himself and jawing with our students.

hapapp wrote:

mtnjax wrote:Sounds like their coach is a sore loser

He was moaning and groaning all night long. I can't say I was impressed with the overall demeanor of their team. Watching the team's go through the line at game's end, you got the sense that they weren't very gracious losers.

Hunter had no comment for the local press after the game. He just brushed sportswriters aside. He did run his mouth quite a lot once he was back in Hotlanta. I was well-less-than-impressed--both with him as a coach and person and with his team. They got exactly what they needed and deserved; a big serving of humble pie.

“This is a disappointing loss,” head coach Ron Hunter said. “The game came down to free throws and we didn’t make them. You have to give credit to Appalachian State. They went on a run late in the second half when we could have put the game away. They used the momentum to even the score and come away with a victory.”

I guess it took the bus ride home for him to be able to put it in words.

The Sun Belt needs to address this through a fine or official reprimand of Georgia State athletics.

AppinVA wrote:The Sun Belt needs to address this through a fine or official reprimand of Georgia State athletics.

I'm curious how Cobb will handle this.

Great to see a 6'7" guy named Spagnolo go to the line and knock down 12 of 13 free throws. Best game and atmosphere at Holmes for some time. Lets keep it going guys. Great program building win.

app97 wrote:Ron Hunter looked like he should be a comedian, judging by his sideline behavior. His team appears to play like their superior talent will win games alone. They weren't ready for the a team that wouldn't quit.

Sounds like Arkansas State in football. Expected us to wilt.

As always, let's link the article to show some appreciation for the coverage:

http://www.journalnow.com/sports/asu/ba ... 1f0d6.html

We gave Ron hell Saturday. He is a crybaby!!! Gonna get it again next year....LOL

Always have been a Hunter fan since living in Indy in mid-late 90's where Hunter was at IUPUI. Was very impressed about his cheerleading for his program in a basketball centered area. Hate to hear these comments.

AppinVA wrote:The Sun Belt needs to address this through a fine or official reprimand of Georgia State athletics.

For doing what exactly should he have a fine or reprimand?

Here's an interesting aside to the game. Ryan Harrow was suspended for G-State's game Monday at Arkansas State by the school for accumulating six technicals so far this year. He got his sixth last Thursday. However Hunter was informed by Cobb hours before Saturday's game of the suspension. But since it was so close to tip off, they decided to wait until Monday.

FYI, App coaches and players have a combined zero technicals so far this year.

NewApp wrote:

AppinVA wrote:The Sun Belt needs to address this through a fine or official reprimand of Georgia State athletics.

For doing what exactly should he have a fine or reprimand?

For refusing to meet with the press after the game. It might only be Tommy, Steve and the kid from The Appalachian, but they are there to do the same job a reporter from the N&O is when he/she covers UNC-CHeat, or when someone from ESPN.com covers a game. Just because nobody from the AJC in his great media market chose to drive to Boone (maybe they did, but I didn't look for a story there), and just because his players were out hustled and he was out coached, doesn't mean he can skip out on his obligations. I'm sure CC heard from all three outlets and App Sports Information early this week. Or he, at least, should have.

T-Dog wrote:Here's an interesting aside to the game. Ryan Harrow was suspended for G-State's game Monday at Arkansas State by the school for accumulating six technicals so far this year. He got his sixth last Thursday. However Hunter was informed by Cobb hours before Saturday's game of the suspension. But since it was so close to tip off, they decided to wait until Monday.

FYI, App coaches and players have a combined zero technicals so far this year.

Sounds like ol' CC really wanted this one.

AppinVA wrote:

NewApp wrote:

AppinVA wrote:The Sun Belt needs to address this through a fine or official reprimand of Georgia State athletics.

For doing what exactly should he have a fine or reprimand?

For refusing to meet with the press after the game. It might only be Tommy, Steve and the kid from The Appalachian, but they are there to do the same job a reporter from the N&O is when he/she covers UNC-CHeat, or when someone from ESPN.com covers a game. Just because nobody from the AJC in his great media market chose to drive to Boone (maybe they did, but I didn't look for a story there), and just because his players were out hustled and he was out coached, doesn't mean he can skip out on his obligations. I'm sure CC heard from all three outlets and App Sports Information early this week. Or he, at least, should have.

I think this is a big deal. There should be a response from the SunBelt. He should not be allowed to get away with this. It is his obligation and RESPONSIBILITY to address the media after the game. ...as for the Harrow deal...that was interesting.

Was CC at the game? I did not see him before during or after and I stayed until our kids had finished their interviews with DJ. I can't remember name but the former asst. AD from App that went with Charlie was there, visible and talking to lots of people after the game.