High Point Looks to Extend Hot Start Against Appalachian State in Hickory HICKORY, N.C. (Interstat) — The surging High Point Panthers will put their strong early-season record on the line against the Appalachian State Mountaineers in a nonconference men’s basketball game Sunday at Shuford Memorial Gymnasium. High Point (8-2) enters with momentum, having won five of its last six games. The Panthers are coming off an 89-72 home victory over NJIT on Dec. 5, where they showcased a potent offense that has averaged 88.4 points per game during their current three-game winning streak. The Panthers are led by guard Rob Martin, who has scored 20 or more points in three of his last five outings. Martin dropped 21 points and dished four assists in the win over NJIT, following a 20-point performance in a narrow 86-84 loss to Southern Illinois on Dec. 3. Appalachian State (6-5) seeks consistency after a mixed start. The Mountaineers snapped a three-game skid with a solid 67-54 road win at East Carolina on Thursday. Guard Kasen Jennings led the way with 20 points in that victory, his second 20-point game of the season following a 21-point effort at Dartmouth on Nov. 16. The Mountaineers’ defense, which held East Carolina to 54 points, will face a much stiffer test against High Point’s high-scoring attack. Appalachian State’s results have varied widely, from a 133-45 rout of Virginia-Lynchburg to a 35-point home loss to Elon. This matchup serves as a final nonconference tune-up for both teams before holiday breaks and the grind of their respective league schedules. High Point begins Big South play on Jan. 3, while Appalachian State opens Sun Belt Conference action on Dec. 18. The game tips off at 2 p.m. EST on Sunday, Dec. 14.