JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Appalachian State used its height advantage to build a 10-point halftime lead, then held off a Jacksonville second half rally, with a pair of three pointers to seal a 67-56 win over the Dolphins at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena Thursday.

After the Mountaineers (3-2) built a 35-25 lead at the half, JU junior Andris Misters scored 15 of his team-high 18 points in the second half to lead the JU effort.

JU (2-7) steadily chipped away to get to within three, 51-48, with 6:11 to play after Marcel White hit a pair of free throws. The Dolphins got back to within three with 4:07 to play at 54-51.

However, on the next trip down the floor, ASU's Dustin Clark connected on a key three-pointer with 3:50 to go and a 57-51 lead. Misters hit a free throw to get to 57-52 but the Mountaineer's Jake Babic ended all doubt with a three from the right corner with 3:15 to go.

"I think in the second half we came out with a little bit of fight," said Head Coach Tony Jasick. "We cut it to three, then were driven straight line to the rim, then get lost and gave up a three at the top of the key. The kid made a nice shot but it's a defendable play. Just like that we go from three to nine."

Jasick said the team's defense needs to tighten up.

"We just get lost defensively,'' Jasick added. "We're at a point where we don't value every possession. We loose a possession here, a possession there, you can't do that if you're trying to win games at this level.''

"It is frustrating to lose,'' Misters said. "Everybody hates to lose. I had foul trouble in the first half and couldn't play my best."

Junior Tim Gill was the only other Dolphin in double figures with 11.

"I think it's personal responsibility when you miss 13 free throws and turn it over 15 times,'' Jasick said. "It's guys that have to play the right way and be focused. Our margin is so small we can't take plays off.''

The Dolphins used an effective zone defense to throttle ASU's height advantage early, but the Mountaineers eventually broke out to an uncatchable lead.

Leading 13-12 with 12:22 to play in the first half, the Mountaineers scored seven consecutive points on their way to a 13-point lead with 17 seconds to play.

The Dolphins' Jeremy Bogus hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to get JU to within 10 at 35-25 at the break. JU shot only 33 percent from the field and 46 percent from the free throw line in the first half.

Jacksonville returns to action on Saturday at Bethune-Cookman. Tip is set for 4:00 pm, catch all the action with Scott Manze on 92.5 FM.