Box Score MOBILE, Ala. – Despite a poor shooting first half of play, Appalachian State University men's basketball took a 30-25 lead into halftime. However, South Alabama used a 22-3 run to begin the second half to take control and win the game by a score of 73-60 on Saturday night.

The Mountaineers (6-15, 4-6 Sun Belt) shot just 31.8 percent (21-for-66) from the floor and 27.6 percent (8-for-29) from long range in the contest. Senior guard Chris Burgess led the Mountaineers in scoring with 14 points on 4-of-7 shooting and knocked down four triples in the effort. Ronshad Shabazz was the other lone Mountaineer to notch double-figures and the freshman finished with 10 points.

Appalachian's leading scorer, Frank Eaves (21.3 ppg) was held to a season-low two points on just 1-for-15 shooting from the field.

Leading the Jaguars (9-12, 4-6 Sun Belt) was John Brown with 13 points, while Ken Williams and Georgi Boyanov chipped in 12 points each. USA shot 50.0 percent (29-for-58) from the floor for the game.

App State started rather sluggish out of the gate in the opening half and didn't record its first bucket until the 16:43 mark on a Griffin Kinney jumper. The Black and Gold would slowly claw its way back into the lead in the first half and would take its first lead at 18-17 on a three from Burgess.

The Burgess three would spark three different lead changes, but back-to-back Tyrell Johnson layups off of offensive rebounds would open up a three point cushion for Appalachian. The Mountaineers would get its lead as high as seven points following consecutive jumpers from Shabazz and would take the five-point lead into the lockerroom.

In the first half of play, Appalachian would tally 10 offensive rebounds, which led to 10 second-chance points. However, the Mountaineers would only muster two in the second half.

The Jaguars (9-12, 4-6 Sun Belt) would open the second half on a 22-3 run to and give themselves what felt like a commanding 47-33 advantage with exactly 10:00 minutes to play in regulation.

App State battled back and got a three from Matt O'Boyle (Peoria, Ariz./Sunrise Mountain/Pima Community College), which sparked a 5-0 run combined with two free throws from Shabazz to trail by just nine.

Later, at the 7:33 mark a jumper from Michael Obacha would put the Apps within 10 points at 50-40, but the Jags would engineer an 11-3 run keyed by Brown three-pointer for USA's largest lead of the game – 18 points. The Mountaineers battled back to within 11 points, but the Jaguars would stave off the Mountaineers and hold onto a 13-point victory.

Appalachian will return home next week for a pair of Sun Belt games against UL Lafayette on Thursday, Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m. Following the game against the Ragin' Cajuns, App State will host UL Monroe on Saturday, Feb. 6 at 3:30 p.m.