SALISBURY, Md. – Sophomore Lawrence Pettis, Jr. scored 24 points and sank two free throws late in the game to pull Frostburg to within three points, but it wasn't enough as the Bobcats suffered a 77-70 loss at Salisbury, Saturday.
 
The loss ends a three-game winning streak for Frostburg as it sits at 10-11 overall and 8-6 in the league. Despite the loss, Frostburg remains in fifth place in the CAC standings with four regular-season contests to play.
 
The Bobcats trailed by as many as 14 points, 62-48, midway through the second half before pulling within a basket.
 
Pettis, Jr. knocked down a three-pointer at 9:32 to start Frostburg's rally. Pettis and Senior Tyler Michael connected on back-to-back layups as Frostburg was suddenly with within five, 62-57 with 7:03 showing thanks to a 9-0 run.
 
The Sea Gulls (14-7, 10-4) pushed their lead back to nine, 68-58 with 3:48 left and they again led by eight, 72-64 with 1:20 on the clock.
 
Bobcat junior Edwin Cole hit two foul shots at 1:07 and he tipped home a missed layup with 31 seconds left that pulled them within four, 72-68.
 
Ten seconds later, Pettis hit a pair of free throws as Frostburg pulled to within three, 73-70. However, the Bobcats missed a layup and a three-pointer inside the final 12 seconds and SU made four free throws to seal it.
 
Pettis has scored over 20 points in five of the last six games and in those five, he is averaging 23.6 points and 5.6 assists per contest. On Saturday, he added five assists and three steals to his 24 points.
 
Michael added 17 points, while Cole scored 13 and led the Bobcats with seven rebounds. As a team, Frostburg tied a season-high with 19 foul shots, but made just 21-of-54 attempts from the floor.
 
Salisbury finished with five players in double figures and was led by James Foley, who came off the bench to score 17. Blair Davis added 16, while Chad Barcikowski, Johnny Fierstein and Jack Ferguson scored 12 each. The Gulls received 35 points on the afternoon from their bench players.
 
Pettis hit two three-pointers inside the opening four minutes of the ballgame as Frostburg held on to several leads in the early going.
 
Salisbury rebounded with a 17-4 scoring jolt over a little less than four minutes to lead 25-13. Senior Jordan Johnson hit two foul shots and a three-pointer as FSU pulled to within eight, 25-17.
 
Later in the half, Frostburg posted a 14-3 run to pull within three, 34-31. Pettis ended the run with three-pointers at 4:17 and 3:33. Cole hit a foul shot at 2:46 and the Bobcats trailed by just two, 34-32.
 
The Gulls pushed their lead back to seven before Michael ended the half with another three-pointer and the Bobcats trailed 41-37.
 
The Bobcats return to action on Wednesday when they host Mary Washington at 8:00 pm.