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Monday, 20 February 2012 22:56 |
 Senior guard Omar Carter leaps between Winthrop sophomore forward Joab Jerome and senior center Matt Morgan to score Saturday afternoon. The Mountaineers defeated the Eagles at home 76-64. Courtney Roskos | The Appalachian
For the second straight game, the men’s basketball team loved the play from their big Butts.
Senior center Isaac Butts flew out of the gates, dominating the visiting Winthrop Eagles (11-18) 76-64 to lead ASU (12-15) to a win Saturday in the Holmes Convocation Center.
Butts was all over the court early, grabbing five rebounds, scoring three points, stripping a Winthrop player in the post and assisting on a Tab Hamilton 3-pointer within the first five minutes to fuel Appalachian to an early 14-4 lead.
“As soon as we calmed down, we put on a good show,” senior Omar Carter said. “It was the best four or five minutes of basketball in my life. Everything went right.”
The Mountaineer seniors had the biggest impact Saturday. Along with Butts, Carter hit three 3-pointers in the first half and led ASU in scoring for 12 in the period.
Although the Mountaineers built up a lead by as many as 16 in the first half, the Eagles rallied back and took a one-point lead early in the second half with an Andre Jones layup. It was the Eagles’ first lead since scoring the first basket of the game. ASU responded quickly. 3-pointers by freshman Mike Neal and sophomore G.J. Vilarino and a layup by Butts put ASU up for good.
The Mountaineers had five players score in the double digits. Butts finished with 15 points and 15 rebounds. Carter also finished with 15.
Butts nearly achieved a personal milestone early in the game, when he caught an Andre Williamson pass and launched a 20-foot jumper that barely missed being a 3-pointer. Butts claimed it was the longest shot he’s attempted in a game.
“I was going for a three, I wanted one,” Butts said. “I had two dreams in college. I wanted to get 15-plus rebounds and I wanted to shoot a three.If I wore a size 10, it would have been a three.”
Winthrop head coach Randy Peele was critical of his team’s effort against Appalachian State.
“I’m not happy with the way we played.” Coach Peele said. “Eight years ago, we were ranked 22nd in the country and today we come here and get beat. I’m not happy about that.”
With just two games left in the regular season, the Mountaineers can still finish as high as second place with wins in their last two games. ASU will travel to The Citadel Wednesday and conclude the season at Western Carolina Saturday.
Story: JAKE AMBERG, Sports Editor
Photo: COURTNEY ROSKOS, Intern Photographer |
