BOONE, N.C. (Interstat) — Appalachian State defeated South Alabama 65-57 in a Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball game Wednesday night at Holmes Center. The Mountaineers led 29-23 at halftime and maintained control despite inefficient shooting, going 11 for 39 from 3-point range. Jalen Tot led all scorers with 23 points for Appalachian State, while teammate Alonzo Dodd added 18. South Alabama’s Chaze Harris scored 17 points and Jayden Cooper had 16. The Jaguars shot 37% from the field and were outscored 10-2 on fast breaks. Appalachian State improved to 16-9 overall. South Alabama fell to 16-7. Attendance was 2,014.

BOONE, N.C. (Interstat) — In a grinding Sun Belt Conference clash defined by defense and decisive plays in the final minutes, Appalachian State held off South Alabama 65-57 on Wednesday night at the Holmes Center. The Mountaineers improved to 16-9 overall, while the Jaguars fell to 16-7. The game’s pivotal sequence unfolded in the closing 90 seconds with Appalachian State clinging to a 58-56 lead. South Alabama’s Chaze Harris, who led all scorers with 17 points, drove for a potential tying layup but missed. The Mountaineers secured the rebound and, after working the clock, found Kasen Jennings open on the left wing. Jennings drained a critical three-pointer with 1:16 remaining, pushing the lead to 61-56 and forcing a South Alabama timeout. The Jaguars could not respond. After a missed jumper by Harris, Appalachian State’s Eren Banks drew a foul and made one of two free throws. Following another empty South Alabama possession, Alonzo Dodd sealed the victory at the line, making two free throws with 36 seconds left to extend the lead to 64-57. Appalachian State was led by the backcourt duo of Jalen Tot and Alonzo Dodd. Tot, a guard from Dallas, scored a team-high 23 points, including five three-pointers. Dodd, from Saint Paul, Minnesota, added 18 points, four assists and key defensive plays down the stretch. Forward Luke Wilson provided a crucial interior presence with 11 points, two blocks and a game-high 11 rebounds. South Alabama’s offense, which entered the game averaging over 73 points per contest, was held to its second-lowest output of the season. Beyond Harris’s 17 points and six assists, support was limited. Jayden Cooper, from Pike Road, Alabama, scored 16 points, but the Jaguars shot poorly from the perimeter and struggled to sustain any offensive rhythm against Appalachian State’s persistent defense. The first half was a low-scoring affair, with Appalachian State taking a 29-23 lead into halftime. The Mountaineers built their advantage primarily through Tot’s outside shooting and Wilson’s work on the glass. South Alabama stayed within reach thanks to Harris, who orchestrated much of their offense. The Jaguars showed more life after halftime, but each time they threatened, Appalachian State had an answer. A three-pointer by South Alabama’s John Broom cut the deficit to 34-32 early in the second half, but Tot quickly responded with a three of his own. Later, when Randy Brady’s three-pointer brought South Alabama within 49-47 with just over five minutes to play, Dodd answered with a floating jumper in the lane. Appalachian State’s ability to execute in the half-court and get timely stops proved the difference, as they outscored South Alabama 36-34 in the second half to secure the eight-point victory. The announced attendance at Holmes Center was 2,014. South Alabama will look to rebound at home against Buffalo on Saturday. Appalachian State continues its homestand, also on Saturday, against Eastern Michigan.

BOONE, N.C. (Interstat) — A pivotal Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball matchup awaits Wednesday night at Holmes Center as the surging South Alabama Jaguars visit the Appalachian State Mountaineers. South Alabama (16-6) enters on a three-game winning streak, including a narrow 69-67 home victory over Georgia State last Saturday. The Jaguars have won five of their last six, with their only loss in that span a 59-56 defeat to Louisiana-Lafayette. Guard Chaze Harris has been the engine, averaging 20.5 points and 4.8 assists over his last six games. His standout performance was a 38-point, 5-assist effort in a 91-87 overtime win against Arkansas State on Jan. 15. Appalachian State (15-9) counters with its own momentum, having won four straight games, most recently a dominant 66-44 road win at Troy. The Mountaineers’ defense has been stifling during the streak, holding three of those four opponents under 60 points. Offensively, they are powered by guard Kasen Jennings, who is coming off a career-high 33-point outing against Troy. Jennings has averaged 18.5 points per game over the last eight contests. The game features a contrast in styles. South Alabama leans on a high-powered offense, scoring 80 or more points in four of its last seven games. Appalachian State has relied on a rugged defense, ranking among the conference leaders in scoring defense during league play. Historically, the series has been tightly contested, adding another layer to this midweek clash. With both teams jockeying for position in the Sun Belt standings, Wednesday’s result could prove crucial for postseason seeding. South Alabama will look to continue its offensive efficiency on the road, while Appalachian State aims to protect its home court and extend its winning streak to five. The Jaguars’ next game is at home against Buffalo on Saturday. The Mountaineers host Eastern Michigan on Saturday.