Appalachian State Hosts Elon in a Key North Division Tilt on Saturday Afternoon

 Elon (10-9, 5-3) at Appalachian State (8-11, 4-5), 2 p.m.

GAME PREVIEW:

Elon heads to Appalachian State for an important North Division clash on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Gym in what will be the first of two meetings between the two this season. The Mountaineers are coming off a heartbreaking 77-73 overtime loss at UNCG on Thursday night, while the Phoenix were able to score an important road win at Western Carolina with a 71-63 victory over the Catamounts to remain atop the North Division standings.

The Mountaineers claimed both of last season's meetings between the two and have won six straight in the series. ASU was able to gut out a 68-62 win at Elon last season, while posting a 79-71 victory in Boone. The last time the Phoenix tasted victory against the Apps came back in the 2007-08 season, claiming a 76-70 win at Alumni Gym. Saturday's meeting between the two will mark the 92nd all-time meeting between the Phoenix and Mountaineers, with ASU holding a 50-41 all-time series edge.

In ASU's loss at UNCG on Thursday night, the Mountaineers appeared to be in complete control of the contest early on against the red-hot Spartans, leading by as many as 17 points in the opening half of play. However, UNCG would storm all the way back to lead by seven (63-56) with only 1:28 to play. ASU would not be finished, however, and forced overtime, getting a big three-pointer from Mike Neal and a pair of charity shots from Omar Carter to tie the game, 64-64, and force the extra session. 

But UNCG would jump out to a four-point lead in overtime and it would be it would never relinquish as the Spartans claimed their fifth-straight win at ASU's expense. ASU did get a strong performance from SoCon Preseason Player of the Year Omar Carter, who led four Apps in double figures with 19 points. Carter connected on just 3-of-9 shots from the field, but was 12-for-15 from the charity stripe. Carter was joined in double digits by Andre Williamson (13 pts), Jamaal Trice (11 pts) and Tab Hamilton (10 pts).

Omar Carter (13.5 PPG, 6.1 RPG) continues to be the go-to-player for the Apps coming into Saturday afternoon's contest. Last season against the Phoenix, Carter registered two pretty solid performances against them, posting 22 points in the 79-71 win at the Holmes Center while posting 17 points in the 68-62 win at Alumni Gym.

Carter has not shot the ball as well from the perimeter this season, having connected on 32.4 percent (22-for-68) of his long-range efforts this season. Carter shot 40 percent from long range last season, connecting on 38-of-95 attempts from long-range last season. Carter has scored in double figures in each of the past two games and three of the last four games for the Apps. 

Joining Carter in the paint will be Jamaal Trice (11.1 PPG, 2.8 RPG) and Andre Williamson (10.5 PPG, ). Trice has been a great addition to the Mountaineers this season and he's one of the newcomers that should give ASU the opportunity to not only compete for a North Division title, but also be a solid contender when the Mountaineers arrive in Asheville in a little over a month for the Southern Conference Tournament. The 6'6", 230-pound forward is a versatile performer, and his ability to step out and hit the perimeter shot makes him especially dangerous. Trice is shooting an impressive 44.0 percent (37-of-84) from three-point range this season for the Apps and his 37 triples lead the team. 

If ASU head coach Jason Capel were to hand out an MVP award to this point in the season, he would probably give that award to Williamson, who is having a tremendous senior season. Williamson has been a force on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor, and with his athleticism he has been able to change shots on the defensive end being one of the SoCon's top shot-blockers.

Williamson leads the league in shot deflections this season, having posted 34 swats this season, thanks in large part to his career-high tying five blocked shots on Thursday night. Williamson recorded solid performances in the two wins over Elon a year ago, posting 12 points in the eight point win in Boone, while posting 11 points in the six point triumph at Alumni Gym. 

Set to start in the backcourt for the Apps on Saturday afternoon for the Black and Gold will be point guard Mike Neal (6.5 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 55 assists) and shooting guard Tab Hamilton (7.9 PPG, 1.5 RPG). Neal has continued to get adapt to his role as the full-time starter at point guard with each game, and now he is clearly the Mountaineers' floor leader. Neal is not a player known for his scoring at the point, but he has the ability to penetrate and create his own shot off the dribble if the situation calls for it. He has also shot the ball at a decent clip from three this season, connecting on 37.5 percent (15-for-40) from three this season. 

Another newcomer that has made a significant difference this season has been Hamilton. The Winston-Salem, N.C. native has the ability to score points in bunches and is a streaky shooter from the perimeter. Hamilton had his best game of the season in the 65-63 loss at Chattanooga a few weeks back. In that contest, Hamilton put up a season-high 22 points in the heartbreaking setback. Hamilton has seen his perimeter shooting cool off significantly as of late, and he is connecting on 37.3 percent (25-for-67) from three-point land this season. 

The top performers off the ASU bench are front court performers Isaac Butts (7.2 PPG, 5.4 RPG) and Nathan Healy (3.4 PPG, 2.9 RPG). Both Butts and Healy have been solid on the interior for the Apps this season. Healy is without question the hardest worker on the team, and he recorded a start the last time out against UNCG and could start this afternoon against the Phoenix. Rounding out the key players coming off the bench for the Mountaineers will be in the backcourt, as Mitch Woods (1.2 PPG, 0.2 RPG) and G.J. Vilarino (3.5 PPG, 1.6 RPG) will add depth in the backcourt. 

Elon enters this afternoon's contest being led in the backcourt this season by sophomore shooting guard Jack Isenbarger (10.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG), who is now starting for the Phoenix rather than coming off the bench. He is coming off a strong performance in a road win at Western Carolina on Thursday night, as he posted a season-high 26 points and was 5-for-8 from three-point range in the win in Cullowhee. Isenbarger is a prolific perimeter outside shooter, and he comes in having connected on 36-for-102 from three-point range (35.3 percent) this season, which leads the team. Isenbarger posted a solid performance in his last trip to the High Country, posting 14 points in Elon's 79-71 loss to Appalachian State.

Joining Isenbarger in the backcourt starting five for the Phoenix on Saturday afternoon will be sensational freshman point guard Austin Hamilton (10.8 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 60 assists), as well as sharp-shooting wing guard Sebastian Koch (8.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG) who's a player that is one of the most versatile in the Elon starting five. Hamilton is averaging 16.5 PPG in his last two outings and is coming off a strong performance in Elon's win at Western Carolina on Thursday night as he posted 13 points and five assists. Koch has the ability to post-up with his size, as well as being a solid shooter from the perimeter this season, having connected on 35 triples this season, which ranks second on the team.

The Phoenix front court will consist of Ryley Beaumont (6.0 PPG, 5.3 RPG) and leading scorer Lucas Troutman (12.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG). Beaumont and Troutman have been solid in the paint this season, especially Troutman, who's playing well on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor this season. Troutman is coming off a 15-point performance against Western Carolina on Thursday night. He had one of his most memorable career performances against Appalachian State last season in the 68-62 loss in Elon, posting 19 points, six rebounds and three blocks.

Coming off the bench, head coach Matt Matheny will look to Roger Dugas (1.8 PPG, 1.4 RPG), Egheos Edomwonyi (2.9 PPG, 2.0 RPG) and Brett Irvin (3.7 PPG, 2.1 RPG) in the paint, giving the Phoenix good depth. In the backcourt, the top player coming off the pine is Drew Spradlin (9.4 PPG, 4.2 RPG), who is an All-Southern Conference performer, who has struggled as of late. When he is on his game, he is one of the league's top wing guards.   

FINAL SCORE: APPALACHIAN STATE 66, ELON 62