Chattanooga, TN -- (Sports Network) - Jeremi Booth finished with a game-high 21 points, as Appalachian State downed Georgia Southern, 86-75, in the opening round of the Southern Conference Tournament.

Josh Hunter and Kellen Brand each had 16 points, while Hunter added eight rebounds for Appalachian State (13-17), the fourth seed from the north division.

The Mountaineers advanced to the quarterfinal round Saturday, when they will meet the south's top seed -- and three-time defending champion -- Davidson. Donald Sims added 12 points in Appalachian State's win.

Tyler Troupe scored 20 points for Georgia Southern (8-22), the fifth seed from the south. Ben Drayton and Antonio Hanson added 15 and 14 points, respectively, for the Eagles, who ended their season on a four-game losing streak.

Appalachian State led by only three, 47-44, after a barn-burner of a first half. The Mountaineers shot 69 percent (20-of-29) in the opening 20 minutes, making 6-of-10 three-pointers, while the Eagles made 54.5 percent of their shots.

It was a different story in the second half, in which neither team shot over 40 percent. However, Appalachian State pulled away at the free throw line, making 17-of-26 in the final 20 minutes alone -- more than Georgia Southern had the entire game (8-of-10).