With a 10 day break in between games, Appalachian State University men's basketball will look for its third-straight win when it opens Sun Belt Conference play at Texas State on Saturday, Dec. 31. Tipoff between the Mountaineers and Bobcats is slated for 5:30 p.m. ET inside Strahan Coliseum.

Wednesday's contest can be heard live locally on WATA 1450 AM in Boone and Blowing Rock. It will also be carried on Appalachian State's flagship station, WKBC 97.3 FM, as well as, WZGV 730 AM, WCOG 1320 AM, and online/worldwide on appstatesports.com and via the TuneIn app.

LAST TIME OUT
• The Mountaineers topped Hampton 88-67 in their final game before Christmas on Dec. 21. With the win they moved to 2-1 all time against the Pirates.

• App State got out to a 16-0 lead to open things up and never looked back. The Apps took a 39-23 lead into the break and outscored the Pirates 49-44 in the second period.

• The 21-point victory marked the seventh time this season App State produced at least four double-digit scorers.

• App State outrebounded Hampton 35-26 and moved to 21-12 under Jim Fox in games in which they have accomplished that, including 4-3 this season.

• Logan poured in a career-high 21 points, while Kinney chimed in with his first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

• Appalachian moved to 18-7 under Fox when leading at halftime and 19-5 when shooting better than its opponent.

• The Mountaineers moved to 3-0 this season when they have produced at least 20 assists. App State finished with 20 assists on 28 field goals against the Pirates.

• With the win, App State moved to 144-76 (.655) all time inside the Holmes Center on its home floor.

TOP HEADLINES AND SERIES HISTORY
• Appalachian State will play Texas State for the sixth time in program history when it begins Sun Belt Conference play today.

• App State owns a 3-2 all-time mark against Texas State, including a series split last season with both teams winning on its home floor

• App State posted a 20-point victory inside the Holmes Center, 76-56, last Jan. 9, before falling at Texas State by one, 69-68, with a chance to win at the end.

• This trip marks back-to-back seasons that the Mountaineers will be on the road for a Sun Belt game on New Years Eve.

• According to the Ken Pomeroy rankings, the Mountaineers are the 14th-youngest team in the country (337/351).

• The Mountaineers rebounded from last year's 81-62 loss to Hampton with a 88-67 rout in Boone before Christmas on Dec. 21.

• The Apps shot 52.8 percent (28-53) from the floor and 48.0 percent (12-25) from 3-point land en route to the blowout win.

• Emarius Logan posted a career-high 21 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the floor and 5-for-7 from downtown. 

• Logan was one of five Mountaineers that netted double-figures in the game: Ronshad Shabazz (15), and Griffin Kinney, Tyrell Johnson and Patrick Good all collecting 12 points each.

• Kinney also tied a career-high 10 rebounds in the winning effort for his first career double-double.

SCOUTING THE BOBCATS
• Texas State comes into the game with a 7-5 record, including a 4-1 mark on its home floor.

• The Bobcats average 68.9 points per game and are led by Kavin Gilder-Tilbury (15.5 ppg) and Nijal Pearson (13.5 ppg) who are both averaging double-figures for the Bobcats.

• Texas State is only allowing 61.9 points per game - good for 23rd in the nation.

• The Bobcats have also produced a positive rebound margin (+1.7) and turnover margin (+3.1).

• Nijal Pearson leads the Bobcats in rebounding (6.5 rpg), while the team averages 36.2 per contest.

• Texas State shoots 43.9 percent from the floor, but just 32.2 percent from distance. The Bobcats are also just a 63.8 percent free-throw shooting team.

WHAT'S NEXT
• Appalachian State will conclude its road trip to open Sun Belt play when it travels to UT Arlington on Monday, Jan. 2.

• Tipoff is at 8 p.m. ET.