Men’s Basketball 81 UMKC 71

Appalachian arguable played its best team game of the season in its first win of the season over a Division I opponent. The Mountaineers used an eight man rotation with half of them scoring in double figures. Tevin Basking poured in a game high 18 points off the bench. The game featured the sophomore debut of Mike Neal from academic suspension. Neal played 31 minutes and only scored four points, dished out a team high four assists. Appalachian assisted on fifteen of their twenty-six made field goals.

Appalachian held a one point halftime lead in a back and forth first half. In the second half, both teams shot over 60% from the field, but the difference was at the free throw line. Appalachian was 18/20 in the second half at the free throw line, gaining an eight point advantage over UMKC. The Mountaineers finished the game with outstanding shooting percentages, hitting 55% of their field goals, 55% of their three points attempts and 77% of their free throws. Tab Hamilton finished with 17 points, Jamaal Trice had 16 points and Jay Canty chipped in with twelve points.

The spread opened up with Appalachian being three point underdogs and eventually moved to four points. When the line moves like that, it generally means that money was heading toward the homestanding Kangaroos. The Mountaineers have been the underdog in every game this season and have covered the spread every time. Eventually they will be favored in a game, most likely against Presbyterian in six days. In the meantime, Appalachian will visit South Carolina during the week. We kept hot on the Mountaineers side and took them to cover and that improved our record to 5-1 on the season. We are on fire right now, and the Mountaineers season has made it somewhat easy. We will ride this streak as long as we can. I imagine South Carolina will be at least a ten point favorite on Wednesday Night. Our pick is already made barring a very odd line.