Final Stats | Sun Belt Championship Bracket

Boone, N.C. - Coastal Carolina trailed by 20 points early, made a strong second-half comeback to take a small lead, but could not complete the win in a hard-fought 77-73 loss at Appalachian State.

The Chanticleers (15-16, 10-8 Sun Belt) fought all the way back and actually led by two 59-57 with eight minutes left in the game, but rebounding and missed free throws turned out to be the downfall in another tight Sun Belt Conference game.

Shivaughn Wiggins scored a team, game and season-high 29 points and Jaylen Shaw added 20, but they were the only two Chants to reach double digits.

CCU shot 40 percent from the field, but only 32 percent on their threes, and the big problem was only hitting 18 of their 33 free throws (55%).

The CCU defense held ASU to only five field goals in the second half and 23 percent shooting while CCU made their run. The problem was the host did not miss at the free throw line. They came into the game shooting 67 percent as a team, but hit 25 of their 34 for 74 percent, which turned out to be the difference in the game.

The Mountaineers (9-20, 4-14 Sun Belt) also out rebounded CCU 50-35, the 15 rebound difference is the largest rebounding difference on the season.

ASU had five players reach double-digits led by Ronshad Shabazz's 18 points. Griffin Kinney and Jake Babic added 11 while Kelvin Robinson and Emarius Logan added 10 each.

ASU finished the game shooting 39 percent from the field and 28 percent from beyond the three point line.

Appalachian State jumped out early and often in the opening 20 minutes in building a 48-30 halftime lead. Shabazz led the hot-shooting home team with 14 points while Kinney, Logan and Babic each had eight.

ASU shot 50 percent in the first half and knocked down seven of its 16 three point attempts. ASU also doubled up CCU on the boards 28-14.

Shaw had 11 for the Chants as CCU only shot 38 percent from the field and 27 percent on its three point attempts. To make matters worse CCU only hit four of its 12 free throws.

Next up for the Chanticleers will be their first Sun Belt Conference Tournament which begins next week in New Orleans. The date, time and opponent will be released later by the Sun Belt Conference.