BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University men's basketball's furious second-half rally came up just short in an 87-76 loss to red-hot UL Lafayette on Thursday evening at the Holmes Center.

Appalachian State (6-16, 4-7 Sun Belt) trailed 52-35 at halftime and saw the deficit balloon to as large as 21 points early in the second half. However, on the strength of a 19-8 run, Appalachian pulled within four at 78-74 on Frank Eaves' layup with 5:08 to go in the ballgame.

Unfortunately for the Mountaineers, they wouldn't get any closer, as NBA prospect Shawn Long had slam dunks on back-to-back possessions down the stretch and UL Lafayette (13-9, 9-3 Sun Belt) closed the game on a 9-2 run to seal its eighth-straight win.

Long finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds (both game highs) to lead the Ragin' Cajuns.

Thanks in large part to the 6-11, 241-pound Long, UL Lafayette outscored App State, 50-38, in the paint, which proved to be the difference in the 11-point game. The Ragin' Cajuns also shot 52.5 percent from the field, including a 60-percent showing (18-of-30) in the first half.

True freshman Ronshad Shabazz paced three Mountaineers in double-figures with 18 points. Eaves added 15 and sophomore Griffin Kinney chipped in with 10 for Appalachian, which lost for the third time in four games.

The Mountaineers did win the rebounding battle against the Cajuns 44-40. Freshman Tyrell Johnson led the Apps with eight boards, while Matt O'Boyle finished with seven.

Appalachian State returns to action on Saturday when it hosts UL Monroe at the Holmes Center. Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m.