By David Rogers. February 4, 2012. BOONE -- After winning almost every statistical category, the 2,533 Mountaineer fans sprinkled around the Holmes Convocation Center probably expected Appalachian State to have won its conference home game against College of Charleston.  Unfortunately, they lost in the most important category, scoring, while falling to the Cougars on Saturday afternoon, 74-62. Photos by Keith Cline.

Even in the loss, Appalachian State looked more like a Division I basketball team than in its embarrassing loss to Samford on Thursday.  Junior forward Nathan Healy led the team in scoring for the second-straight game, with 12 points, while tying for team rebounding honors (8) with senior forward Andre Williamson and guard Omar Carter.  Senior forward Isaac Butts and freshman guard Tab Hamilton III put up 10 points each.

But it could have been more.  Charleston was "hot" from the field, especially in the second half, helping the Cougars overcome an otherwise disruptive ASU defense. Unfortunately, the High Country hosts proved too hospitable, unable to capitalize.

On this day, it was not for a lack of effort.  Appalachian State's hoopsters outrebounded Charleston, 46-32. Unfortunately, 21 of the 46 were off of the offensive boards -- which means that there were 21 missed shots.  The good news is that AppState worked harder and more effectively to create and attack open space in this game. The bad news is that they collectively missed 16 three-point attempts, as well as missing on 14 short jumpers and 13 layups.

Meanwhile, Cougar guard Andrew Lawrence poured in a game-high 24 points, while dishing off for a game-high seven assists.

"I'm really proud of our guys," said College of Charleston interim head coach Mark Byington afterwards, filling in for the ailing Bobby Cremins, "for bouncing back in less than 48 hours. We had a heartbreaking loss against Elon, where in the second half and in overtime we had many chances to win the game and couldn't pull through. They didn't let the loss linger. From the opening tip our guys were ready to play today. They were focused and had great concentration.

"Andrew Lawrence was tremendous (for us) tonight," Byington continued. "In a stretch of the last three or four games he has been very good, with assists and scoring points. He's probably playing as good as any guard in the league right now, in my opinion."

"That was a rough one," admitted Appalachian State head coach Jason Capel.  "I am not a numbers guy, but you look at the stat sheets and (we) get 17 extra shots, (we are) plus 13 on the boards...you usually think some good things are going to happen. For whatever reason, that ball won't go in the basket for us. We are getting good looks. At one point we missed (13) layups. We missed I don't know how many 15-foot jump shots. We are getting open looks, (but) we are not putting them down. We have to continue to work, to continue to believe...We will do it Monday night against Elon."

Capel suggested that there was a direct correlation between his team's ability to make shots and its defensive play. "Last Saturday's game against Elon, we were making shots and we played perhaps our best defensive game. I think those two go hand in hand. They correspond with one another...You can't have that to be a winning team.  But again, we missed some 'bunnies', some easy shots that allowed them to go on a run.  When we are not scoring, we have to be tough enough to get (defensive) stops.

"We were 3 for 19 (from the three-point arc)," Capel concluded. "At least 12 of those were wide open.  When you are a Division I player and you have a wide open shot, and your skillset is one that enables you to shoot the three-pointer, you shoot it -- you make it.  We took 70 shots. When you only make 26 out of 70, and only 19 of those were three-pointers, you missed a lot of shots. Especially if you are wide open, you have your feet set and your hands ready, you make them. If teams play you zone, you have to make shots. We are not doing that right now."

One glaring statistic: College of Charleston went to the charity stripe 22 times, making 17 of them.  Appalachian made 7 of only 8 free throw opportunities.

To get back into the race for a first round bye in the SoCon Championship Tournament, where only 1st and 2nd in each division get free passes to the second round, Appalachian will have to rebound on the road.  The Mountaineers travel two and a half hours east to face Elon on Monday night in a 7 pm matchup, then head south on Thursday for another 7 pm tilt against Furman, in Greenville, SC.

College of Charleston 74

Appalachian State 62

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