CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Despite a trio of players reaching double-digits in scoring The Citadel was unable to outmuscle Appalachian State in a 71-61 second round loss at the Southern Conference Tournament at Bojangles Coliseum. Zach Urbanus, who netted a team-high 15 points, hit four 3-pointers to spark the 'Dogs second half effort. Teammates Cameron Wells and Austin Dahn added 11 points apiece to round out scoring. Meanwhile, the Mountaineers countered with Donald Sims' 30 points, followed by Kellen Brand who tallied 15 points and Isaac Butts' 11 point, 10 rebound outing.
Urbanus was the cog in a Citadel offense that hit 9-of-20 (45%) from beyond the perimeter, scoring 12 of 15 points in the second half. Urbanus joined Dahn (2-4), Wells (1-3) and Morabbi (1-1), as the 'Dogs hit five second half treys. The Citadel hit 19-for-48 (39.6%) from the floor and converted 14-of-17 from the free throw line in the season finale. Wells finished with team-highs in rebounds (six) and assists (four), and is now seven points shy of second place on the all-time scoring list (1,497).
Sims, who was named SoCon Player of the Year earlier in the week, finished 10-of-19 from the field and 7-for-7 from the charity stripe. He now has 22 games this season in which he was perfect from the line. Brand, who hit 7-of-13 field goals, also grabbed six rebounds to complete his performance. Butts, who finished as one of three players with more than six rebounds, anchored a unit that held a 42-25 edge on the glass.
Clinging to a three point advantage at the break, Sims scored five points to spark Appalachian State during an 11-4 run over the first 4:31 of the second half. The Citadel quickly responded with a series of layups by Wells and Bo Holston cut the lead back to four.
Appalachian State went on a 18-8 run that over the next eight minutes to extend their lead to 56-42. The Mountaineers lead remained in double figures until Urbanus' fourth trey of the half cut the deficit to eight, 67-59, with 1:17 remaining in the game. Four straight free throws by Sims and Marcus Wright, sandwiched around a jumper by Wells, made for the 71-61 final.
Bryan Streeter and Dahn teamed up to lead The Citadel in scoring with eight and six points respectfully. Streeter converted all four attempts from the free throw line, along with grabbing two rebounds. As for Dahn, who hit 2-for-2 from beyond the perimeter, he was responsible for a Bulldogs squad that hit four first half treys.
Sims scored each of the first seven points for the Mountaineers, before Streeter knotted the game at 7-7 at the 13:34 mark. Just over two minutes later Dahn gave the Bulldogs their first lead of the game, 10-9, on a long range 3-pointer. Appalachian State responded with a 7-0 run, taking the large lead of the half at 16-10, before a Streeter layup and Morabbi trey drew the margin within one.
ASU stretched the lead back to five, 20-15, with 5:40 remaining in the half, when Bo Holston found Urbanus in the corner for an open 3-pointer. Two possessions later DuPont converted a layup to knot the contest at 20-20.
After trading baskets and reaching the fifth tie of the half, Kellen Brand gave the Mountaineers a two point lead with 1:33 left. Holston countered with a layup before a Ryann Abraham free throw and Sims jumper, as time expired, gave Appalachian State a 27-24 lead at the half.
