BOONE, N.C. (Interstat) — A pivotal Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball matchup with postseason implications is set for Thursday when the Appalachian State Mountaineers host the Marshall Thundering Herd. The game at the Holmes Center features two of the league’s hottest teams. Appalachian State (18-10) has won seven of its last nine games, while Marshall (17-10) has secured victories in five of its last seven outings. The contest could prove critical for seeding in the upcoming conference tournament. Marshall won the season’s first meeting, 88-81, at home on Jan. 3. The Thundering Herd will look to replicate that success behind a surging Wyatt Fricks. The forward is averaging 21.4 points over his last five games, including a 27-point, five-block performance in an 84-80 win over South Alabama on Monday. Fricks has scored 20 or more points in four of those five contests. Appalachian State counters with its own defensive anchor in Luke Wilson. The forward is coming off a dominant 18-point, 16-rebound effort in a loss at James Madison on Feb. 14. Wilson has been a force on the glass and as a rim protector, recording three double-doubles and multiple blocks in four games over his last eight appearances. The Mountaineers have relied on a stout defense during their recent surge, holding opponents to 65 points or fewer in five of their last seven wins. They will be tested by a Marshall offense that has surpassed 80 points in three of its last five games. The matchup features a contrast in styles, with Marshall’s high-scoring attack facing Appalachian State’s methodical, defensive-minded approach. The outcome will hinge on whether the Thundering Herd can penetrate the Mountaineers’ defense or if Appalachian State can control the tempo and the glass. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST on Thursday, Feb. 19.