Inside the Numbers: App State vs. Asheville

 

Asheville forward Toyaz Solomon had a huge day Sunday, logging 25 points in a gritty win over App State. (Photo:  Asheville Athletics)

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ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Former Manhattan and Seton Hall coach Bobby Gonzalez used to have a phrase – I’m paraphrasing here, while blending with an old coach of my own – about some games not being oil paintings.

Sunday’s game between Asheville and App State won’t be the kind of story told in history books, but there was a lot to break down from what took place inside the Harrah’s Cherokee Center on a cold, dreary afternoon. Asheville claimed a 67-55 decision over App State in a game that could be lovingly described as a slugfest.

Now that you know what happened, let’s take no one’s favorite trip…Inside the Numbers!

• Asheville (3-4) raced – almost literally – out to a 19-2 lead in the game. The Bulldogs hit eight of their first 13 shots, booking three from distance. When Asheville weren’t making shots, they were rebounding – hauling in nine boards in the first eight minutes of the contest. App State, conversely, went just 1-for-8 in those first eight minutes, before a Michael Marcus triple led the game into its second media stoppage.

App State (4-5) punched back, quickly snipping the Asheville lead to 21-15 on the strength of five straight makes. Jalen Tot splashed a pair of triples during the run to provide a boost off the bench. The Mountaineers then cut it to two on a Kasen Jennings bucket with 5:09 left in the first half. Asheville countered with back-to-back buckets from David Hermes and Kam Taylor, however, and App State could never seize the lead.

• App State had another surge in the second half, slicing the Asheville advantage to 41-38 on an Alonzo Dodd jumper with 9:56 to play. Asheville quickly countered with an 8-0 run, though, swelling the lead back to 11. App State could never again draw closer than nine.
  
  
• Kam Taylor logged a 12-point, 10-board double-double for the Bulldogs, but possibly at a cost. Taylor was noticeably limping and had to be removed from the game late. Taylor was able to leave the floor under his own power, but the Bulldogs can ill afford to be without their sophomore standout for any period of time.
  
  
• Big South Preseason Player of the Year Toyaz Solomon also had a strong game, scoring 25 and snatching eight misses in 35 minutes of play. Solomon needed 16 shots to get those 25 points, along with 9-of-11 from the line.
  
  
• Justin Wright (13) and DJ Patrick (11) joined the Bulldog pair in doubles. Patrick battled foul trouble, finishing with four. There was also a bit of a discussion between Wright and Morrell after the game, after Wright was assessed a technical late in the game for a “conversation” he had with an App State player following a slight fracas. Morrell and Wright stayed on the floor after the game, with the Bulldogs’ head man appearing to remind Wright of the importance of keeping his composure before the two shared a hug near center court.
  
  
• App State got a tremendous effort from Marcus and Tot off the bench. Marcus scored 13 in 26 minutes of reserve duty, knocking down 5-of-8 from the field (3-of-5 from deep), while Tot added eight. Dodd also finished in doubles for the Mountaineers, hitting 5-of-9 from the deck and booking 11.
  
  
• The Mountaineers held Asheville to 33 percent from the floor in the second half, with the Bulldogs hitting just six of the 18 shots they tried in the period. Asheville was held without a three in the second half, going 0-for-6 from beyond the arc.
  
  
• Asheville coach Mike Morrell was his usual quotable self. In fact, let’s give you a Quotables section just on Mike.

QUOTABLES

On the win:  “I’m really proud of the guys and how they responded. (App State) is a good team. In my eight years, I’m not saying that’s the best win we’ve had, but that’s as tough as we’ve played – as physical as we’ve played.”

On the team:  “We’re just a mess right now, man. I mean, we’ve got guys falling all over the place. I give (forward) David Hermes a lot of credit. We told him a couple days ago he was going to play. He got himself ready and I thought he was the difference, just from a physicality standpoint, so he’s going to keep playing.”

“It’s not as easy as you think just to throw guys back in the lineup once you get playing and things of that nature, so we’re still trying to get healthy and see if we can find a way to get another one here in 48 hours.”

On Asheville’s defense:  “It’s not honestly how I love to play – the kind of grind it out, get in the gaps, and low-scoring, but I’m just – given the circumstances in which we find ourselves with our team right now, I’m not sure that’s not how we’re going to have to play for a little bit.”

On Solomon:  “He played like one of the better players in the league today, and he drew – the stat that’s the best is that he drew eight fouls. He’s not been getting to the free throw line. He’s got to make the game come a little bit easier for him, and getting to the free throw line has got to be a part of that. I show him clips of Drew (Pember) all the time. That’s how Drew was able to rest and play 36 minutes (a game).”

“Maybe one day, he’ll get us double-digit rebounds. That’s an inside joke between me and him.”

Next up:  Asheville continues its downtown run, hosting UNCG in the Harrah’s Cherokee Center Tuesday night. Game time is set for 7:00, with ESPN+ handling the coverage. App State returns home to the Holmes Center in Boone, N.C., to take on Virginia-Lynchburg Wednesday night. ESPN+ will air the 6:30 tip.

Hustle Stats:

Points off turnovers:  App State 11, Asheville 9

Points in the paint:  Asheville 28, App State 24

Second-chance points:  Asheville 13, App State 8

Fast-break points:  App State 8, Asheville 8

Bench points:  App State 26, Asheville 4

ASHEVILLE 67, APP STATE 55

APP STATE (4-5)

Dodd 5-9 1-1 11, Wilson 2-4 5-8 9, Jennings 3-10 0-0 6, Banks 1-6 0-2 3, Njock 0-0 0-0 0, Marcus 5-8 0-0 13, Tot 3-10 0-0 8, Moodie 2-2 1-4 5, Clarke 0-4 0-0 0, O’Kelley 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-53 7-15 55.

ASHEVILLE (3-4)

Solomon 8-16 9-11 25, Wright 3-9 7-7 13, Taylor 4-10 3-5 12, Patrick 3-8 3-4 11, Mayfield 1-1 0-0 2, Hermes 1-2 0-0 2, Jones 1-3 0-0 2, Clarke 0-0 0-0 0, Thomas 0-1 0-0 0, Tolentino 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-50 22-27 67.

Halftime:  Asheville 33-26. 3-Point goals:  App State 6-25 (Dodd 0-1, Jennings 0-2, Banks 1-5, Marcus 3-5, Tot 2-9, Clarke 0-3), Asheville 3-18 (Solomon 0-2, Wright 0-4, Taylor 1-5, Patrick 2-5, Jones 0-2). Fouled out:  Jennings (ASU), Hermes (AVL).  Rebounds:  Asheville 36 (Taylor 10), App State 25 (Jennings/Marcus 4). Total fouls:  App State 23, Asheville 22. Technicals:  Dodd (APP), Wright (AVL).