BETHANY, W.Va. - The Frostburg State University men's basketball team suffered a narrow 75-72 loss at Bethany (W.Va.) in non-conference action on Friday evening despite a fierce rally late in the contest.

Box Score

Senior Ellis Hartridge, Jr. (Washington, D.C./Anacostia) converted a layup with 17 seconds remaining in the second half to cap a 20-5 run that brought the Bobcats (5-5) to within one point, 73-72. However, that would be the last point that FSU would score as the Bison (8-3) sealed the win with two late free throws.

Bethany, winners of six straight, led from the opening tip until the final horn and kept the Bobcats from ever tying the game or taking the lead. The hosts held a pair of 10-point leads in the first 10 minutes of action, but Frostburg State fought back and narrowed the deficit to four points, 19-15 at 9:13.

Over the next six minutes of action, Bethany extended its lead to 15 points, 42-27. Hartridge ended the scoring in the opening stanza with a free throw with 53 seconds left and Bethany led by 14, 46-32, at the break.

The Bison pushed their lead to 17 points just 2:02 into second half action and continued to hold a 17-point cushion, 57-40, at 14:41. The Bobcats cut the score to nine points, 61-52, at the 10:14 mark. However, Bethany surged back to a 16-point lead, 68-52, before the Bobcats' 20-5 run that brought them to within one point inside the final minute of action.

Bethany saw three players finish in double figures, led by 17 from Reece Mabery. He also added three steals, three assists and two three-pointers.

Hartridge paced the Bobcat offensive output with a career-high 21 points. He finished 7-of-12 (58.3%) from the both the floor and free throw line and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Senior Brian Anderson (Perry Hall, Md./Eastern Tech) added 15 points, five assists and five steals. He inched ever closer to the 1,000-point mark and now needs just 14 points to tie and 15 to surpass that career plateau.

The Bobcats made a season-best nine three-pointers, outrebounded Bethany, 39-34, and outscored the opposing bench, 48-21.

The Bobcats have a week-and-half off and return to action at the Christopher Newport Holiday Tournament on Wednesday, December 29.