FROSTBURG, Md. – Frostburg finished with five players in double figures including three starters, but the Bobcats dropped a narrow 95-92 consolation game in the R-MC Coaches Tournament to Rowan, Saturday afternoon.
The Bobcats fall to 4-7 overall despite posting some impressive numbers in the stat sheet. Frostburg posted its second-best numbers of the season in terms of baskets (36) and shooting percentage (48.0) while tying season-highs in steals (11) and assists (19).
For the second-straight game and third time this season, sophomore Daniel Alexander led the Bobcats in scoring. Against the Profs (7-5), Alexander was 8-of-11 from the field and scored 22 points. Alexander took home all-tournament honors for totaling 37 points in two games during the tournament.
Senior Tyler Michael notched 21 points on 10-of-17 shooting, while senior Darren Campbell and junior Edwin Cole added 12 and 11 respectively. Cole tied a game-high with seven boards.
Senior Christopher Coston came off the bench to score a season-best 10 points to go along with six rebounds.
Both teams knocked down 36 baskets, while Frostburg held a significant rebounding advantage (48-34) and scored 22 points off 19 offensive rebounds.
The game itself featured 10 lead changes and nine ties and neither squad led by more than eight points.
Rowan led 45-44 after the opening half and outscored FSU 50-48 in the second.
Frostburg surged to a five-point cushion in the closing minutes of the opening half. Coston hit a three for a 38-35 lead at 4:22 and Michael connected on a layup on the Bobcats' ensuing trip down the floor for a 40-35 lead.
Michael later hit a jumper that put Frostburg ahead 44-43 with just over a minute remaining in the first, but the Profs hit a layup just before the buzzer for the one-point cushion at the break.
Cole quickly handed the lead back to the Bobcats in the opening 18 seconds of the second period with a layup. Campbell hit a three at 18:11 and Alexander made a jumper at 17:19 and a three at 16:34 and Frostburg pushed its advantage back to five 59-54.
Rowan rebounded and led by four twice just before the midway point of the half, but Frostburg answered again by tying the game four times over the next five minutes to keep things close.
Senior Dalton Gaus hit a jumper at 6:33 that tied things at 79-79, but over the next 3:33, Rowan began to slowly pull away. Daron Curry and Nick Depersia each hit a three-pointer during a quick 12-4 run from the Profs as they built their lead to a game-high eight, 91-83.
The Bobcats had one final push left and Cole made a pair of foul shots at 1:50 to start the run. Following a Rowan turnover, Michael hit a layup at 1:38 and the deficit was at four, 91-87.
On the next offensive possession, Michael took advantage of another Frostburg offensive rebound by hitting a three-pointer at 1:08 as Frostburg trailed just 91-90.
The Profs hit a layup just under a minute and Campbell answered with a jump shot with 42 seconds left as the score read 93-92.
Following Campbell's basket, Rowan missed a jump shot and Frostburg grabbed the rebound and was fouled. Unfortunately, the Bobcats missed both free throws and the Profs' Depersia hit two foul shots with four seconds showing for a 95-92 lead.
A last-second three-pointer for Frostburg was off the mark and Rowan collected its second win in the last six games.
The Profs also finished with five players in double figures and were led by Curry with 19.
Frostburg returns to CAC action on Wednesday when it hosts Marymount at 8:00 pm.
