Box Score Wofford-ASU Game Box
SPARTANBURG, SC – The Wofford College men’s basketball team was defeated 52-49 by Appalachian State on Thursday night at Benjamin Johnson Arena. The Terriers were down by one point with 25 seconds remaining, but two free throws by Donald Sims with eight seconds to go sealed the win for the Mountaineers.
The Terriers are 8-6 overall and 1-3 in SoCon play. Appalachian State is 8-6 overall and 3-2 in conference play. The Terriers were led by Shane Nichols with 15 points and Tim Johnson with ten points. The Mountaineers were led by Kellen Brand with twelve points and Donald Sims with nine points. Jeremy Clayton of Appalachian State led all rebounders with seven. Wofford had three players with six rebounds each.
“They were just a little bit better than us tonight,” said Wofford head coach Mike Young. “We outrebounded them, which was a key to the game. Our post play was solid and is going to be very good for us. They are still young and are going to make some mistakes.”
Both teams started a little slow out of the gate, and Wofford had a 6-5 lead five minutes into the game after two three-pointers by Shane Nichols. The Mountaineers took a four point lead after a three-pointer by Doug McLaughlin-Williams at 13:14. The Terriers regained the lead with three straight baskets, one each by Tim Johnson, Corey Godzinski and Tyler Whatley, to lead 12-10.
Appalachian State came back and took the lead at 15-12, then increased it to 21-16 with five minutes to go in the half. After a jump shot by Matt Estep closed the Mountaineer’s lead to 23-20, Appalachian State went up 28-22 with 22 seconds left on a basket by Davis Bowne. Terry Martin hit a shot with two seconds left for a 28-24 Mountaineer lead at the half.
The Mountaineers scored the first five points in the second half to go up 33-24 at 16:53, their largest lead of the game. Shane Nichols hit a three-pointer and was fouled, giving Wofford a four-point play at 12:46 in the second half to cut the lead to 33-29. A huge dunk by Terry Martin at 10:40 cut the Mountaineers’ lead to 35-33. The dunk was followed by a three-pointer by Junior Salters to give the Terriers the lead at 36-35.
Another three-pointer by Junior Salters with 7:40 left in the game tied it at 39-39. A three-pointer by Donald Sims at 4:47 broke a tie and gave Appalachian State a 44-41 lead. Wofford pulled within one at 44-43 after a jumper by Shane Nichols, but a basket and free throw by Davis Bowne gave Appalachian State a 47-43 lead with 4:47 left in the game.
A reverse lay-up by Tim Johnson cut the Mountaineers’ lead to two at 47-45 at 4:17. After trading free throws, Appalachian State’s Eduardo Bermudez hit a jumper with 38 seconds left in the game for a 50-46 lead. Shane Nichols hit a three with 25 seconds left to make it a one point game.
On the next possession by the Mountaineers, Drew Gibson stole the ball from Davis Bowne. However, the Terriers turned the ball over and were forced to quickly foul. Donald Sims hit both shots for the Mountaineers with eight seconds to go in the game for a 52-49 lead. Drew Gibson attempted a three with a second left, but missed the mark.
Shane Nichols led the team in scoring for the seven of the nine games played this season. Wofford shot 40.4% from the floor and were 46.2% from three-point. The Mountaineers were 40.8% from the floor and 27.8% from behind the arc. Wofford outrebounded the Mountaineers 34-28 marking the tenth time in fourteen games the Terriers have outrebounded an opponent. Wofford was only 5-of-12 from the free throw line, while Appalachian State was 7-of-10.
Wofford will play the final game of four straight home contests on Saturday, January 12 when Davidson will visit Benjamin Johnson Arena at 7:00 pm.
