CRESSON, Pa. – Four players scored in double figures and Frostburg State used a late-game run to force overtime before suffering an 92-86 season-opening loss to Mount Aloysius, Monday.
 
The contest served as the season opener for both schools and the Bobcats are 0-1 to begin the 2015-16 campaign.
 
Frostburg led 37-34 at halftime thanks to 10 points from sophomore Tyler Michael and seven from both senior Nick Smoot and freshman Tavari Merriman.
 
FSU trailed by as many as eight points in the first before Merriman knocked down a three-pointer at 9:03 for an 18-17 lead. Sophomore Dalton Gaus hit a pair of baskets in the closing minutes to put Frostburg's lead at six and Merriman connected on a layup with 1:11 to go as the visitors led 37-32.
 
Frostburg opened the second stanza with three-straight baskets and senior James Peters hit a layup at 18:50 as Frostburg assumed its largest lead of the game at nine, 43-34.
 
Mount Aloysius rebounded, however, with a quick 10-2 jilt that evened the contest at 47-47. Frostburg battled to tie the ball game three more times over the next seven minutes. Gaus hit a big three-pointer at 8:46 to knot things at 63-63 and Peters converted a three-point play the old-fashioned way with a layup and a free throw at 6:25 as FSU surged ahead 70-69.
 
From there the lead changed hands five more times over the final six minutes until Merriman made a layup with 21 seconds left to send the contest into overtime.
 
Michael hit a free throw just 14 seconds into extra time for Frostburg's only lead, 82-81. Dillon Bender hit back-to-back baskets as the Mounties led 90-84 with 32 seconds showing and he later capped the evening with two free throws as the hosts captured the 92-86 victory.
 
Smoot led the Bobcats with 22 points and a career-high 10 assists for his first career double-double. Michael chipped in 17 points, Merriman added 15 and Gaus had 10. Senior Shawn Henson scored nine points, but gathered a career-best 16 rebounds.
 
Bender led all players with 28 points, Arin Wade scored 19 and Joe Dziabo had 17. Tre Brown matched Smoot with 10 assists, while Drew Knowles had 12 boards.
 
Frostburg attempted 85 shots on the evening the most since attempting 90 shots against Mt. Aloysius in February '09. It's the first the time the Bobcats have shot the ball more than 80 times in a game since January '11 against York.
 
FSU returns to action this Saturday when it hosts Hood on Saturday at 6:00 pm in the first game of the 2015 FSU Tournament. Fans can follow all of the action through live stats and live video at www.FrostburgSports.com/Live.