NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Frostburg State kept things close for much of the contest against 18th-ranked Christopher Newport. However, the Captains slowly inched their way to a 72-59 win over the visiting Bobcats, Saturday.
Box Score
The first half featured eight lead changes and FSU (0-9, 0-4) led by four points on three occasions. Junior Jabari Kamau hit a jumper with 11:57 to play in the first as Frostburg led 14-10, its third and final four-point advantage in the opening half.
With CNU (10-1, 3-0) up four, 23-19, sophomore Nick Smoot hit a three-pointer from the corner that pulled the Bobcats within one and kept them alive despite early foul trouble.
Christopher Newport, winning for the seventh-straight contest, gathered a 9-2 run over the final four minutes of the first half to lead 32-24 at halftime.
Despite the late first half scoring outburst, FSU didn't back down and narrowed its deficit to three, 41-38, with 14:06 remaining in the second half. Kamau hit a layup and a free throw for the traditional three-point play that brought FSU to within three after trailing by nine early in the second.
Smoot also played a vital role in keeping the Bobcats close with a pair of big three-pointers. His first came at 12:13 that pulled Frostburg to within 43-41. His second brought the deficit to 55-52 with just 7:36 to play in regulation.
On the ensuing Bobcat possession, junior Tyler Campbell hit a jumper that kept the deficit at three, 57-54.
However, over the next three minutes, the Captains collected a 9-2 run that increased their lead to 10, 66-56, with 3:01 remaining. CNU hit a late three-pointer and connected on three free throws inside the final 30 seconds to win by 13.
Kamau poured in a game-high 19 points, including 10 in the second half. Smoot finished with 11 points behind three 3PT's.
Connor Laframboise led all players with 20 points including six three-pointers for CNU. The Captains finished with nine three-pointers altogether and shot 40.7 percent from the floor.
FSU returns to action on Wednesday when it travels to St. Mary's at 8:00 pm.
