Sims Nets 44 to Lead App. State Past Davidson

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DAVIDSON, N.C. – Donald Sims scored a career-high 44 points, and Appalachian State held Davidson to two field goals in the last six minutes of the game to defeat the Wildcats 78-68 in SoCon men's basketball action Saturday afternoon in Belk Arena.

Sims was 13-for-19 from the field, 5-for-7 from 3-point range and 13-for-13 from the free-throw line. His point total set a new Belk Arena record, topping Stephen Curry's 41 points against Chattanooga last season. It was also the second-most individual points against Davidson in school history, besting the 43 points NC State's David Thompson netted Dec. 21, 1974.

The Wildcats (7-9, 2-2 SoCon) had four scorers in double figures, led by JP Kuhlman with 18 points. Will Archambault posted 14, while Steve Rossiter and Brendan McKillop each scored 10.

Isaac Butts tallied 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Mountaineers (8-7, 2-2 SoCon), and Kellen Brand finished with 12 points.

After both teams made big runs in the first half, the second frame was back and forth with the Mountaineers gaining small leads and Davidson fighting back to even the score. After three ties, the 'Cats took a 62-61 lead, their first since late in the first half, when Rossiter was fouled converting a layup with 6:58 remaining.

It was the last points the 'Cats would get for the next 4:40, and Sims scored nine in a 10-point Mountaineer run that put App. State back on top 71-62. Kuhlman stopped the spurt with a 3-pointer from the wing to make it a six-point margin, but Sims earned a trip to the charity stripe on ASU's possession. The junior made both, and the Mountaineers got a defensive stop, forcing the 'Cats to foul. ASU made 5-of-6 from the line to seal the win.

The Mountaineers shot 53 percent for the game, including 7-for-15 from behind the 3-point arc and earned a huge advantage at the foul line. ASU made 21-of-24 free throws, while Davidson was 9-for-18. Davidson was held to 39 percent from the floor and went 11-for-30 from long distance. ASU also controlled the glass and finished with a 39-25 rebounding edge.

An early 8-0 Wildcat run helped Davidson build a 22-10 cushion 7:27 into the game. Archambault ignited the run with a layup, and McKillop and Bryant Barr (8 points) added consecutive triples.

With the Mountaineers trailing by 10, Appalachian State finished the stanza with a 14-2 spurt to take a 37-35 advantage at halftime. Sims netted eight of the 14 points.

Davidson opens a two-game SoCon road trip with a 7 p.m. contest at Furman Wednesday, Jan. 13.

Game Notes: The game capped a four-game homestand for the Wildcats, their longest of the season… Kuhlman has scored in double figures in each of the last three games… Furman's Frank Selvy scored the most points against Davidson, netting 50 Feb. 26, 1954… Western Carolina's Frankie King was the last to score 40 or more with 41 March 5, 1994… the Mountaineers broke a four-game losing skid against Davidson.

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