SALISBURY, Md. – Salisbury University led from wire-to-wire in a 72-54 defeat of the Frostburg State University men's basketball team, Saturday afternoon.
 
Even though Frostburg (10-13, 6-10) never led in the ballgame, the Bobcats never backed down and hung tough with the Sea Gulls (16-7, 12-4) for much of the contest. Salisbury pulled away in the second half in the first matchup between the two teams in January, but on Saturday FSU's defense was able to keep it close until the end.
 
Freshman Tyler Michael hit a pair of jumpers in early going to pull the Bobcats to within four points, 13-9, after the hosts tried to run away with the contest in the first few minutes. At 8:05, Michael connected on his third three-pointer as Frostburg trailed by just one, 18-17.
 
Salisbury extended its lead to 11 points with just under five minutes to play, but junior Torrell Goodman hit three-consecutive jump shots and senior Jabari Kamau made a layup with 51 seconds to play as Frostburg trailed 31-25. Salisbury's Wyatt Smith ended the half with a three-pointer for a 34-25 lead at intermission.
 
Salisbury attempted to pull away in the second half, but the Bobcats again battled back to keep things close. SU slowly built its lead to 58-38 with 7:17 showing on the clock, but junior Breon Powell entered the game and promptly hit a jumper followed by three-pointers from Michael and junior Jerel Carter as Frostburg trimmed the deficit to 58-46 at 5:36.
 
That was as close as Frostburg would get as Salisbury pushed its lead to 19, 65-46 at 4:35, and later led by a game-high 21, 69-48 with just over two minutes to play.
 
Powell scored four of the Bobcats' final six points as they pulled the final deficit to 72-54.
 
Michael led the Bobcats in scoring for fourth time this year as he came off the bench to score 18 points, behind four three-pointers. Carter led the five Frostburg starters with 10 points.
 
Smith and Gordon Jeter each scored 16 points for Salisbury as it won for the fifth-consecutive game. SU also outrebounded Frostburg 40-26 and finished 20-of-30 at the foul line.
 
FSU returns to action on Wednesday when it travels to York at 8:00 pm.