Scott Manze's postgame report, ASU

BOONE, N.C. - Marcel White scored a game-high 21 points, but it wasn't enough as Jacksonville dropped its men's basketball season-opener, 76-68, at Appalachian State on Saturday inside the George M. Holmes Convocation Center.

White finished 7-of-14 from the field and made four 3-pointers.

Jacksonville (0-1) scored the first seven points of the game, as a White 3-pointer put the Dolphins up a touchdown a little more than two minutes into the contest. Two Kori Babineaux free throws gave the visitors their largest lead of the day at eight points three minutes later.

Appalachian State (1-0) countered with an 8-0 run, taking its first lead of the afternoon on a Chris Burgess 12-foot jumper in transition. After missing six of its first eight shots, the Mountaineers shot 50 percent (4-of-8) during the 4:08 spurt.

A Burgress 3-pointer gave Appalachian State a 25-20 edge at the 7:39 mark of the first period, but the Mountaineers struggled from the field, hitting only eight of their first 24 field goal attempts, including just 4-of-12 from deep. Meanwhile, the Dolphins hit 50 percent (7-of-14) during the same 13-minute stretch.

Antwon Clayton hit a trey from the top of the key to cut Jacksonville's deficit to 27-25. Darius Dawkins later drained a bucket from distance, as Jacksonville retook the lead 31-30.

The Mountaineers were assessed a technical foul for delay coming out of a second timeout, and Dawkins made a free throw to give the visitors a two-point edge. However, a follow dunk by Appalachian State's Jacob Lawson on the next possession with 11 seconds on the clock sent the game into intermission tied at 32.

Jacksonville's defense limited the Mountaineers to just 28.6 percent (10-of-35) from the field and 4-of-13 from behind the arc.

Dawkins and White each had seven in the first half for the visitors. Dawkins also added two rejections.

Ronshad Shabbazz led the Mountaineers in the first 20 minutes with seven points. Lawson had all four of his five blocks in the period.

The first half was also a foul fest, as the teams combined to shoot 29 free throws. 

Marcellous Bell canned a 3-pointer from the corner to put Jacksonville ahead 37-35 less than three minutes into the second half. White's fourth trey of the day with time expiring on the shot clock pushed Jacksonville's upper hand to 43-39.

The Mountaineers countered, as an Emarius Logan three put the Mountaineers up 46-45 and triggered a 7-0 run. Burgess scored five-straight points to increase Appalachian State's edge to six at 51-45.

The Dolphins answered, as Clayton scored five-straight to tie the game at 54. Another 5-0 spurt regained the lead for the Dolphins at 61-60, but Burgess came back with a trey on the next trip down the court to give the Mountaineers the lead again for good.

A White 3-pointer brought the Dolphins within one possession at 66-64, but the Dolphins would get no closer.

Burgess tallied 18 points in the win. Logan added 13, while Michael Obacha had 11 points and nine rebounds. 

Dawkins finished with 12 points and two blocks. Babineaux had eight points. Clayton added seven points, seven rebounds and three steals. J.R. Holder had two steals. Darien Fernandez recorded three assists.

Both teams shot under 39 percent from the floor, but Appalachian State converted more free throws (20) than Jacksonville attempted (18), as the Mountaineers were 20-of-30 while the Dolphins were 11-of-18. Forty-two fouls were called between the two teams in the game that featured eight ties and 12 lead changes.

Jacksonville travels to Florida State on Tuesday, Nov. 24, for a 9 p.m. ET tip-off.

(Photos taken by Dave Mayo and courtesy of Appalachian State media relations)