MONROE, La. -- Majok Deng scored 18 points to win the battle between the top two scorers in the Sun Belt Conference, leading Louisiana-Monroe to a 72-56 win over Appalachian State on Thursday.

Deng entered the game averaging 20 points, just a click behind Frank Eaves of the Mountaineers. Eaves, who was averaging 20.1 points, went 3 of 9 from the field, including 0 for 4 from 3-point range, and scored 12 points to lead Appalachian State (2-10, 0-1).

The Warhawks (6-7, 2-0) shot 50 percent in the first half and held Appalachian State to 35 percent to open a 37-29 lead.

An eight-point surge early in the second half pushed the margin to 15 and when the Mountaineers cut it to nine, another 7-0 run aided by a technical foul and Deng's 3-pointer, pushed it back to 16 with 12:47 left.

Nick Coppola made three free throws to extend the lead to 23 with seven minutes left.