Appalachian State Mountaineers men's basketball

Last updated
Appalachian State Mountaineers
men's basketball
Basketball current event.svg 2025–26 Appalachian State Mountaineers men's basketball team
Appalachian State Mountaineers logo.svg
University Appalachian State University
Head coach Dustin Kerns (7th season)
Conference Sun Belt Conference
Location Boone, North Carolina
Arena Holmes Center
(capacity: 8,325)
Nickname Mountaineers
ColorsBlack and gold [1]
   
Uniforms
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Home
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Away
NCAA tournament round of 32
1979
NCAA tournament appearances
1979, 2000, 2021
Conference tournament champions
1979, 2000, 2021
Conference regular-season champions
1940, 1941, 1943, 1948, 1950, 1967, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2024
Conference division regular-season champions
1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010

The Appalachian State Mountaineers men's basketball team is the college basketball team at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, United States. The Mountaineers compete in the Sun Belt Conference after having competed in the Southern Conference from 1972 to 2014. They are currently a Division I member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Appalachian State plays their home games at the Holmes Center. [2]

Contents

Notable past coaches include Buzz Peterson, Press Maravich, and Bobby Cremins. The Mountaineers have appeared in the NCAA tournament three times, 1979, 2000, and 2021. They also appeared in the National Invitation Tournament in 2007 and 2024. [3] [4] The Mountaineers also reached the semifinals of the 2010 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament.

Conference championships

Regular Season

YearConferenceRecordCoach
1939–1940 North State 19–3 Flucie Stewart
1940–1941North State22–3Clyde Canipe
1942–1943North State16–5 Belus Smawley
1947–1948North State20–8 Francis Hoover
1949–1950North State21–9Francis Hoover
1966–1967Carolinas21–8 Bob Light
1977–1978 Southern 9–3 Bobby Cremins
1978–1979^Southern11–3Bobby Cremins
1980–1981♦Southern11–5Bobby Cremins
1997–1998♦*Southern13–2 (North) Buzz Peterson
1998–1999Southern13–3 (North)Buzz Peterson
1999–2000^Southern13–3 (North)Buzz Peterson
2002–2003♦Southern11–5 (North) Houston Fancher
2006–2007Southern15–3 (North)Houston Fancher
2007–2008♦Southern13–7 (North)Houston Fancher
2009–2010Southern13–5 (North)Buzz Peterson
2010-2011Southern10–8 (North) Jason Capel
2011-2012Southern7-11 (North)Jason Capel
2012-2013Southern10-8 (North)Jason Capel
2013-2014Southern5-11Jason Capel
2014-2015 Sun Belt 9-11 Jim Fox
2015-2016Sun Belt7-13Jim Fox
2016-2017Sun Belt4-14Jim Fox
2017-2018Sun Belt9-9Jim Fox
2018-19Sun Belt6-12Jim Fox
2019-2020Sun Belt11-9 Dustin Kerns
2020-2021^Sun Belt7-8Dustin Kerns
2021-2022Sun Belt12-6Dustin Kerns
2022-2023Sun Belt9-9Dustin Kerns
2023-2024Sun Belt16-2Dustin Kerns
Total16
Denotes first place and/or conference regular season champion
^ denotes conference tournament champion, and NCAA Tournament Bid
*The Southern Conference split into North and South divisions beginning with the 1994–95 season

Conference Tournament Champions

YearConferenceRecordCoach
1978–1979Southern11-3 Bobby Cremins
1999–2000Southern13-3 Buzz Peterson
2020–2021 Sun Belt 7-8 Dustin Kerns
Total3
Source [5]

Postseason results

NCAA tournament results

The Mountaineers have appeared in the NCAA tournament three times. Their combined record is 0–3.

YearSeedRoundOpponentResult
1979 #6Second Round#3 LSU L 57–71
2000 #14First Round#3 Ohio State L 61–87
2021 #16First Four#16 Norfolk State L 53–54

National Invitation Tournament results

The Mountaineers have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament two times. Their record is 0–2.

YearRoundOpponentResult
2007 First RoundMississippiL 59–73
2024 First RoundWake ForestL 76–87

CollegeInsider.com results

The Mountaineers have appeared in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament one time. Their record is 2–1.

YearRoundOpponentResult
2010 First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Harvard
Marshall
Pacific
W 93–71
W 80–72
L 56–64

The Basketball Classic results

The Mountaineers have appeared in The Basketball Classic one time. Their record is 0–1.

YearRoundOpponentResult
2022 First RoundUSC UpstateL 74–80

NAIA tournament results

The Mountaineers have appeared in the NAIA Tournament five times. Their combined record is 5–5.

YearRoundOpponentResult
1940 First Round
Second Round
Bemidji State
San Diego State
W 43–34
L 46–68
1941 First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Baker
Baltimore
Santa Barbara State
W 63–42
W 48–36
L 29–36
1943 First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Simpson (IA)
Kansas Wesleyan
Northwest Missouri State
W 48–31
W 54–40
L 34–46
1948 First RoundLawrence TechL 48–76
1950 First RoundBrooklynL 75–79

Coaching history

CoachYearsSeasonsRecordPct.Conf. RecordPct.Conf. TitlesNIT App.NCAA App.
No Coach1919–20/1925–34986–33.723
Eugene Garbee 1934–3518–11.421
Flucie Stewart 1935–40/1946–47667–38.63848–24.6671
Clyde Canipe1940–42238–7.84422–5.8151
Belus Smawley 1942–43116–5.7629–01.0001
Harold Quincy1943–4410–7.000
G. P. Eggers1944–4516–13.3167–5.583
Francis Hoover 1945–46/1947–5711133–127.51291–87.5112
Bob Light 1957–7215212–178.54494–85.5251
Press Maravich 1972–75314–63.1825–30.143
Bobby Cremins 1975–816100–70.58851–31.62231
Kevin Cantwell1981–86561–78.43933–47.413
Tom Apke 1986–9610139–147.48670–82.461
Buzz Peterson 1996–2000/2009–105103–52.66560–17.77941
Houston Fancher 2000–099137–136.50279–73.52031
Jason Capel 2010–2014453–70.43132–35.478
Jim Fox 2014–2019556–99.36135–59.372
Dustin Kerns 2019–235-27.56518-17.51411
Totals1919–present961229–1101.527635–562.5301713

Rivalries

Appalachian's primary basketball rivals are the East Tennessee State Buccaneers and the Georgia Southern Eagles. Appalachian State is only 55 miles from Johnson City, TN. East Tennessee State has dominated the series over the past two decades, winning 14 games and losing 3. After being highly competitive in Division I-AA Southern Conference from the late 1990s to the late 2000s, Appalachian State and Georgia Southern have rekindled a rivalry series in the Sun Belt conference. Since the transition in 2014, the Mountaineers are 6–7 against the Eagles, winning each of the last four[ when? ] meetings.

Mountaineers in the NBA

One former Appalachian State player has played in the NBA.

NameYears PlayedTeams
Belus Smawley 1947–1952 St. Louis Bombers, Syracuse Nationals, and Baltimore Bullets

NBA draft

Five former Appalachian State players have been drafted into the NBA.

YearRoundPickPlayer
1950 891Charles Hope
1978 8163Tony Searcy
1979 478Darryl Robinson
1979 8158Renaldo Lawrence
1984 8181Dale Roberts

Current NBA players

References

  1. "University Colors :: University Communications Toolbox :: Appalachian State University" . Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  2. Appalachian Sports Information. "Holmes Convocation Center". GoASU. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
  3. Gardner, Tim (18 March 2024). "Appalachian State Not Chosen for 2024 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, But Earned NIT Berth; Opening Round on Wednesday March 20". High Country Press. Outer Banks Media. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  4. Appalachian Sports Information (2007-03-11). "Mountaineers to Face Ole Miss in NIT". GoASU.
  5. "2022-23 MBB Record Book (PDF)" (PDF). App State Athletics. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  6. Allred, Damon (June 26, 2025). "Suns agree to 2-way contract with Appalachian State F CJ Huntley, per report". Arizona Sports. Bonnville Internet. Retrieved June 27, 2025.