BOONE, N.C. (AP) — Mike Neal scored 23 points and Michael Obacha had 11 points and 12 rebounds as Appalachian State pulled away from NAIA Bluefield 97-70 on Monday.
Neal hit 8 of 9 shots, including 4 of 5 3-pointers as the Mountaineers (4-8) hit 10 of 20 from behind the arch en route to shooting 63.2 percent from the field. Tab Hamilton added 16 points and Chris Burgess had 14.
Nequan Melvin came off the bench to lead Bluefield with 13 points. Devin Page had 12 and Kearsten Marion 10.
Bluefield hung tough in the first half, getting the last four points to trail 53-41. But Hamilton hit a 3 and then made two free throws and the lead was 20 with 10:43 left in the game.
The Rams shot just 40 percent and only made 9 of 16 free throws.
