CLARION, Pa. – The Frostburg State men's basketball team dropped its season opener to No. 25 Mercyhurst by a score of 98-82, with three players reaching double figures in their FSU debuts.
It marked the first game for the program under new head coach Zach Thompson in the opening round of the Clarion Tipoff Classic.
Mercyhurst won the tip and scored the first points of the game. The first FSU point of the season came from freshman Logan Lewis on a made two-point jumper. The Lakers then jumped out to a 12-2 lead before the Bobcats found the bottom of the net again. Lewis continued to be the scoring option for Frostburg early on connecting from downtown to make the score 15-7 Mercyhurst before the first media timeout. FSU came out of the first stoppage settled into the game. Freshman Malcolm Day scored his first bucket as a Bobcat on a layup making the score 17-10 Lakers. At the midway point of the first half, junior Koby Baptiste drove the lane, finishing at the rim to make the game 25-16 with FSU down nine.
The Frostburg pressure was a constant and helped close the gap on the Laker lead. Junior Robby Williams knocked down a three to pull the Bobcats within three at the 8:35 mark. Freshman guard Zane McCarty came up with a steal, leading to a fast break layup converted by Lewis to bring the score to 29-26 Lakers. With the half under the five-minute mark, junior JayShaun Freeman made baskets three different times to get FSU within one point. FSU took their first lead of the game when new FSU big man, junior Sebastian Gahse, made a layup made the score 38-37. The Lakers responded with five points to end the first half at 42-38.
The Bobcats came out of halftime with a slow start and the Lakers in rhythm. The Lakers expanded the lead out to 14-points. Williams made back-to-back threes to slow down the Lakers run. The Bobcats shooting well from outside the arc continued with another make from Freeman to make the score 58-48 Lakers. Sophomore Justin Roseme made two threes before the second half went under the midway point. Mercyhurst continued to shoot the ball well, running the Laker lead out to 21 points just under the six-minute mark. With the game getting late, both teams continued to trade baskets with the Bobcats needing stops. Baptiste made three free-throws at the end of the game to make the score 98-82 in favor of the Lakers.
The Bobcats were led by Williams with 21 points and Baptiste, who had a double-double, grabbing 11 rebounds and scoring 10, while Lewis chipped in with 14 points and a pair of steals.
With the loss, Frostburg begins the year 0-1, while Mercyhurst improves to 1-2. The Bobcats will return to play in the second round of the Clarion Tipoff Classic, facing the host team on Saturday, November 11 at 2 p.m. For more information visit frostburgsports.com.
