High-scoring second half powers South Alabama past App St

Feb 18, 2017, 10:53 pm

MOBILE, Ala. -- Ken Williams scored 20 points, Georgi Boyanov totaled 12 points and 12 rebounds, and South Alabama used a high-scoring second half to pull away from Appalachian State for an 87-74 win on Saturday night.

Williams scored 18 after the break, part of a Jags effort that shot 57 percent from the field (16 of 28), including 6 for 10 from 3-point range, for 57 points in the second half. Josh Ajayi, who finished with 16 points, was 4 of 5 for 12 points in the second half.

South Alabama (13-13, 6-7 Sun Belt) opened the second on a 15-3 run, capped by back-to-back 3s from Nick Stover and Ajayi to give the Jaguars a 45-39 lead they wouldn't give back. The Mountaineers cut it to 51-50 on Bennett Holley's 3 with 10:57 left but South Alabama answered with an 8-1 run and led by at least two possessions the rest of the way.

Appalachian State (8-17, 3-11) led by as many as 10 points in the first half and carried a 36-30 lead into halftime. Ronshad Shabazz and Craig Hinton led with 13 points apiece and Griffin Kinney had 12 points and seven boards.