FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Men's Basketball team dropped their home opener to Shepherd in Bobcat Arena by a final score of 76-68.
 
Freshman Logan Lewis began the scoring with a pair of layups, as FSU went scoreless for the next four minutes before senior Jaylon Johnson knocked down three straight shots for an early 10-4 lead. The Rams responded with a three, then after a junior Koby Baptiste lay-in put the Bobcats up seven, used the free throw line to get within two at 14-12. A technical foul put junior Robby Williams at the line, where he converted both, followed by a Lewis layup and a trey by freshman Zane McCarty to suddenly put Frostburg ahead 21-9.

SU's defense locked down, holding FSU without a field goal for over five minutes, while working their way back to a 24-23 lead. Freshman Malcolm Day finally broke the scoreless streak with a much-needed jumper, but Shepherd scored the final basket of the half to lead 26-25 at the break.
 
The second half opened up with the teams trading threes, as junior JayShaun Freeman scored his first points of the game from behind the arc, but the Rams were able to grow their lead to seven in the first three minutes. Lewis finished at the cup again before another Freeman three brought the score to 38-33, but Shepherd hit a jumper and two at the charity stripe to maintain a solid lead.
 
Redshirt sophomore Justin Roseme planted a jumper in the lane, then Johnson found senior Cole Harshman open in the corner for a knock-down triple and McCarty finished at the rim to pull within 42-40. Once more, SU used their defense to regain control, forcing three turnovers in three minutes to go up by 11, with Lewis ending the run on a three. Down 54-44, Freeman hit back-to-back treys, then Lewis hit one of his own and Harshman made an easy lay-in on Freeman's assist to get within one at 56-55.
 
Shepherd answered with a layup but Williams was able to tie the game with a shot from deep, then Baptiste followed suit for a 61-58 Bobcat lead. Another Baptiste score kept FSU in the lead, but a scoreless three minutes combined with five consecutive Ram layups and a pair of free throws gave the visitors a commanding 71-63 lead with just over a minute remaining. Freeman drove the lane and scored before hitting another triple to get within four, but Frostburg couldn't make their shots down the stretch, while Shepherd made their free throws count, sealing the win 76-68.
 
Freeman and Lewis both reached double figures with 17 and 16, respectively, while junior Sebastian Gahse pulled in a team-high eight rebounds to go with a pair of blocks.
 
With the loss, FSU falls to 0-3, while SU improves to 2-1. The Bobcats return to the court on Saturday, November 18 as they open MEC play with a road trip to Davis & Elkins at 4 p.m. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.