BOONE, N.C. – North Carolina Central University junior guard Justin Wright (Greenville, N.C.) worked his late-game heroics once again as he hit a contested three-pointer as time expired in regulation to force overtime, but Appalachian State was able to hold the Eagles at bay in the extra period for a 79-74 win at the Holmes Convocation Center on Thursday, Nov. 10.
 
App State (2-0) took an early lead over NCCU (0-2), but the Eagles strung together an 8-0 run over a two-minute span to take a 19-11 lead with eight minutes remaining in the period.  The Mountaineers then went on a run to close the gap down to one, but the Eagles were able to stem the tide, and take a 33-28 lead to the intermission.
 
The Eagles were vicious from the perimeter in the first 20 minutes, as they knocked down five treys at a 45.5 percent clip (5-for-11).  The squad was led by Devin Butts (Macon, Ga.) who drilled three in four attempts.
 
NCCU was able to build their lead to nine in the early stages of the second half at 39-30, but the Mountaineers were able to find a way to chip away at the NCCU advantage.  App State assembled a 9-0 run to tie the game at 54 with just under six minutes remaining, and followed that with a 10-5 spurt to hold a five-point advantage at 64-59 with just 1:15 left in regulation.
 
The Eagles found the final five points of regulation after a jam in the paint by Brendan Medley-Bacon (Baltimore, Md.), followed by a desperation three by Wright as time expired to force an added five minutes with the game knotted at 64.
 
Tyree Boykin (Clarksville, Tenn.) broke the ice in overtime with a three-pointer, and the Mountaineers went on to lead for the entire frame on the way to a 79-74 final score.
 
Wright led the Eagles in scoring for a second consecutive game with 17 points and six boards, and Medley-Bacon was close behind with 16 points.  Eric Boone (Lexington, Ky.) stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, eight rebounds, a joint game-high five assists, and two steals.  Devin Gordon (Powder Springs, Ga.) had a complete game as well with 10 points and six caroms.
 
Boykin led App State with 20 points, and teammate CJ Huntley (Huntersville, N.C.) collected a near double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds.  The Mountaineers matched the Eagles with four double-digit scorers of their own, as Donovan Gregory (Charlotte, N.C.) chipped in 12 points, six rebounds, and five assists, and Terrence Harcum (Butner, N.C.) dropped in 14 points.
 
The Eagles will close the season-opening three-game road trip on Monday, Nov. 14 at Liberty before coming home to McDougald-McLendon Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 16 to host Mid-Atlantic Christian.