Monday, November 26, 2007

Cats beat down App State, 71-60

From Davidson website: Box Score
Curry's Record Night Leads Davidson Past Appalachian State

BOONE, N.C. – Davidson guard Stephen Curry scored 38 points, including 26 in the first half, to lead the Wildcats to a 71-60 men’s basketball victory over Appalachian State in their Southern Conference opener Monday night at the Holmes Center.

Curry set a Holmes Center scoring record, and added six rebounds and four steals. He also tied his own school mark with nine 3-pointers.

The sophomore was two points shy of Fred Hetzel’s school record of 28 points in a half, which he accomplished twice, the last of which came against Furman in 1964. Curry was 10-for-14 from the field and 6-of-9 from 3-point land, and one miss was a 40-footer as the buzzer sounded for halftime.

Senior Boris Meno collected 11 points and five rebounds for Davidson (3-2, 1-0 SoCon), and classmate Thomas Sander registered 13 points and six boards.

Ryann Abraham led Appalachian State (3-3, 0-1 SoCon) with 17 points, while Kellen Brand scored 12.

The Wildcats controlled the glass and finished with a 35-30 rebounding edge, including 11-4 on the offensive glass. Davidson also caused 17 Appalachian State turnovers while committing just 11. The ‘Cats led by double digits most of the game, and oddly enough, did not attempt a free throw until there was 2:45 left in the game and shot just two on the night.

With the score tied 8-8, Davidson outscored the Mountaineers 11-1 to 19-9 lead 4:54 into the contest. The Wildcats hit six of their first seven shots, including 4-of-5 from long range. Curry scored 14 of Davidson’s first 19 points.

Davidson cooled off from there, hitting just one of its next seven shots as Appalachian State climbed to within five points at 21-16 midway through the first half. The ‘Cats surged ahead and took a commanding 38-21 cushion on a Sander jump hook with 4:43 to go and led 42-28 at the break.

The Mountaineers used a 13-4 spurt to trim the lead to 52-45 midway through the second period after consecutive Abraham 3-pointers. After Curry answered with an open trey from the wing, Donte Minter scored on a jump hook, and Brand hit two free throws to make the score 55-49 with eight minutes remaining as the crowd came alive.

Davidson answered with two huge 3-pointers on consecutive trips down the court. Bryant Barr hit one from the wing after Stephen Rossiter got an offensive board, and Curry hit one from the top of the key to push the lead back to 61-49 with 7:05 to go. A steal by Jason Richards led to an exclamation-point dunk from Meno to bring the margin to 68-52 with 3:17 left.

Davidson is back in action when the Wildcats host No. 7 Duke (AP and USA Today Polls) at Charlotte Bobcats Arena Saturday, Dec. 1, at noon on ESPNU.

Game Notes: Curry reached the 20-point mark for the 23rd time in his career and 30 points for the fifth time… It was the Mountaineer’s home opener and the second time Davidson has been the opponent in a home opener this season (Western Michigan)… Before tonight, ASU’s only home opening loss in the Holmes Center was a 99-69 loss to North Carolina in the first game played in the building Nov. 17, 2000.

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