SALEM, W. Va. – The Frostburg State Men's Basketball team dropped their road contest to the Salem Tigers on Saturday afternoon by a score of 85-70.
To begin the game, redshirt sophomore Justin Roseme stole the ball after Salem won the tip. The Tigers were able to get a steal of their own and turn it into the first basket of the game for a quick 3-0 lead. Freshman Malcom Day got FSU on the board with an easy right-handed layup. Salem responded with an eight-point run to jump ahead 11-2. Roseme cut the run short as he was sent to the free throw line, where he knocked down both free throws for an 11-4 game. A three was hit by Jack Garrison IV to put the Tigers up by ten for their first double digit lead of the game. Roseme drew another foul and an added a point to FSU's score 14-5. Roseme then pulled down a defensive rebound and found junior JayShaun Freeman for an easy three and a 14-8 game. The Tigers scored the next three consecutive baskets to increase their lead 20-8. Junior Robby Williams found the ball at his fingertips and sunk a three, bringing the Bobcats within nine. Salem pushed the ball up the court and found Garrison, setting him up to hit another three and extend the Tigers lead to 23-11. Williams answered back with a quick jumper to pull Frostburg within 10.
Nearly two minutes passed by with no bucket. Williams started things back up with another made jumper to bring the game to 23-15. Five points and two baskets later, Salem went up 28-15. Graduate Antonio Carlisle subbed in and instantly converted a layup to make the score 28-17. Jumpers and a few layups by both teams brought the score to 35-21 with under six minutes to play in the half. Roseme got passed the ball by junior Sebastian Gahse and knocked down a three to cut the Tigers lead to 35-24. Salem was able to secure the next eight points to expand their lead 43-24. Day snuck in a layup for FSU, but Salem would score the last four points of the half to go up 47-26 at the break.
The Tigers were first to score in the second half. This did not shake Roseme, who hit another three to make the score 49-29. Senior Cole Harshman brought down an offensive rebound and fed freshman Logan Lewis for a 15-foot jumper and a 49-31 game. On the Tiger's offensive half, Ian Hardy earned himself a three-point play to increase the Tigers lead to 52-31. FSU took the ball out and fed Gahse under the basket, who kicked it out to Roseme, who hit his third three of the game to make the score 52-34. After a Tiger's timeout, Williams got fouled, going two-for-two from the line for a 52-36 game. Gahse proceeded to find his third assist of the game as Lewis hit another jumper to bring the score to 54-38. Threes were traded by both teams, Garrison for Salem and freshman Zane McCarty for FSU, to make it 57-41. After Lewis and Williams added more baskets to the score, FSU trailed by 11 with under twelve minutes left to play 59-48.
Both teams saw turnovers until FSU got a hold of the ball and Williams created two points for the Bobcats and a 65-52 game. The Tigers went two-for-two from the line, then created a turnover which resulted in a made three and a 70-52 score. Lewis, with his 13th point of the game, took his defender one-on-one for an easy layup. Williams hit two threes and Lewis converted another layup as the Bobcats trailed 76-62 with under five minutes left. Williams stole the ball and found Roseme, who hit his fourth three of the game to bring Frostburg within 11. Williams, with the ball at his fingertips, passed the ball up to Roseme, who found McCarthy for a three and a 77-68 game. FSU on the come-back, had a foul called sending Salem to the line where the Tigers added two more points to their lead. A missed jumper by the Bobcats resulted in a Tiger layup and 81-68 score. With under a minute left and a missed shot by FSU, the Bobcats were forced to foul, bringing the game to 83-68. After lots of effort and hustle by the Bobcats, Frostburg's comeback fell short as they lost 85-70.
Williams led the Bobcats with 19 points, while Roseme followed with 17 and Lewis with 15. Lewis and Roseme each pulled down four rebounds, while Roseme added three steals. Gahse, Roseme, and graduate Jaylon Johnson all tied for three assists each.
With the conclusion of the game, Frostburg falls to an overall record of 2-14 while Salem moves to an overall record of 5-11. The Bobcats are back in action at home on Wednesday, January 24 as they host West Virginia Wesleyan at 7:30 PM in an MEC conference matchup. For more information visit frostburgsports.com.
