Box Score

GREENSBORO, NC – Chris McFarland scored 15 points as Appalachian State held off a strong performance from UNC Greensboro for a 71-68 victory Monday night in Southern Conference men's basketball action at the Greensboro Coliseum. Appalachian State stays in first place in the SoCon North Division with an overall record of 18-8 and an 11-4 mark in league play. UNCG slips to 7-19 on the season and 3-12 in the SoCon.

With 1:46 remaining in regulation, Appalachian State's Johnathan Mitchell converted a layup to break a 66-66 tie. The Mountaineers then stretched their lead to four, 70-66, as Graham Bunn buried a pair of free throws with just 1:15 left. Over a minute of action elapsed before UNCG's James Maye knocked down a jumper just inside the 3-point arc to pull the Spartans within two, 70-68, with just seven ticks left on the clock. Following a Spartan timeout, ASU's Matt Jones drew the foul and went to the charity stripe. Jones missed the first free throw, then knocked down the second.

UNCG had just enough time to get one last shot off. Freshman Mark Mason pushed the ball up the court looking for an open teammate, but the Mountaineers' Nate Carson poked the ball away as time expired.

Prior to the start of the game, UNCG honored Luke Boythe and James Maye, the team's two seniors. Both played tremendous games in the final home game of their respective careers. Boythe, a Charlotte, NC, native scored just three points, but pulled down a season-high 11 rebounds in a gutsy performance. Maye scored a game-high 26 points and pulled down eight rebounds in 30 minutes of action. Maye's 26 points gives him 1,536 for his career, just three points shy of tying the school record of 1,539 set by Scott Hartzell (1992-96).

Appalachian State threatened to run away with the game in the first half as the Mountaineers pulled ahead by as many as seven points, 22-15, with 6:38 left in the half. After a media timeout, the Spartans came out and quickly tied the game at 26-26 on a Jay Joseph 3-pointer from the wing. The Mountaineers countered with a quick layup by Ahmad Smith, but another Joseph 3-pointer gave the Spartans a 29-28 lead. Bunn connected on the last two free throws of the first half as well, giving ASU a 30-29 lead at the intermission.

Joining McFarland in double figures for Appalachian State was Shawn Hall and Bunn. Each scored 11 points. Josh Shehan just missed a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds.

In addition to Maye's 26 points, Jay Joseph added 20 while hitting three 3-pointers. Joseph has now hit a 3-pointer in 30 consecutive games, a school record. Mark Mason, starting in place of an injured Ray Bristow, played 36 minutes at the point and responded with 11 points, five assists and five rebounds, with just two turnovers.

UNCG wraps up the 2002-03 regular season on Thursday, February 27, at Furman. Tip-off is slated for 7 pm in Greenville, SC. Appalachian State will finish its season Saturday, March 1, at East Tennessee State. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 pm in the Mini-Dome.