STEVENSON, Md. - The Frostburg State University men's basketball team led by as many as 13 points in the second half and had to hold off hard-charging Stevenson University for a slim 74-72 win, Friday night in the semifinals of the Pride of Maryland Tournament. The win vaults the Bobcats (2-0) into the championship contest tomorrow night at 8:30 p.m.

Box Score

The Bobcats trailed at halftime, 47-38, but used a 14-3 run that spanned a little under four minutes to tie the contest at 54. FSU kept the pressure on and opened a 13-point lead (71-58) with 7:01 to play.

However, the Mustangs (1-2) didn't back down and scored the game's next 14 points to retake the lead, 72-71, with 3:34 remaining. Neither team found the hoop for the next two minutes until FSU junior Jamal Bracken (Baltimore, Md./Eastern Tech) hit a jumper with 1:20 to play as FSU led by just one, 73-72. Senior #Ellis Hartridge, Jr.# (Washington, D.C./Anacostia) made a free throw with just one second left for a 74-72 final score.

Frostburg State scored the game's first six points and held a 6-0 lead with 18:23 showing in the first half. SU rebounded for a five-point cushion (17-12) at 13:58, but Frostburg State battled back for a five-point lead with 8:09 left. Stevenson slowly used the rest of the opening half to recapture the lead and push its advantage to nine, 47-38, at intermission.

Bracken dropped a game-high 20 points for the Bobcats who shot 45.5 percent (30-of-66) from the floor. FSU led in rebounds, 45-37, and received a 37-13 edge in points from the bench.

Bracken also led FSU with seven boards and four steals. Hartridge finished with 10 points while senior guard Brian Anderson (Perry Hall, Md./Eastern Tech) added 14 points and five assists.

Greg Woody led Stevenson with 19 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals. Danny Murphy scored 17 points and blocked four shots.

FSU will face St. Mary's in the championship tomorrow night at host Stevenson University at 8:30 p.m.