BOONE, N.C. — In a thrilling showdown on Wednesday night, Appalachian State edged out Southern Miss with a narrow 60-58 victory, highlighted by a spectacular buzzer-beating dunk from CJ Huntley, who finished the game with 20 points.
Myles Tate was pivotal in the win, contributing a notable 11 assists. With only 6.8 seconds remaining, he received an inbounds pass and expertly maneuvered through the Southern Miss defense before delivering an impeccable pass to a wide-open Huntley standing beneath the basket, who executed the dunk to clinch the game.
Huntley not only showcased his scoring ability but also dominated on the boards, recording 12 rebounds for the Mountaineers, who now hold a record of 14-9 and 8-4 in the Sun Belt Conference. Jalil Beaubrun also had a solid performance, scoring 12 points while grabbing eight rebounds. Tate and Dior Connors contributed to the score sheet as well, each adding eight points to the total.
For the Golden Eagles, Andre Curbelo led the team with 16 points and seven assists. Denijay Harris had a commendable performance as well, posting 15 points, 12 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks. Deantoni Gordon chipped in with 10 points, though their efforts fell short of securing a victory.
Looking ahead, both teams are set to return to action on Saturday. Appalachian State will face Ohio while Southern Miss will take on Ball State in their respective matchups.
