FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Men's Basketball team's early first half lead was not enough in the their 83-67 loss to Clarion on Saturday afternoon. 
 
Frostburg started out strong, as graduate Eric Sondberg knocked down a three to open the game for either team, with senior Koby Baptiste getting credit for the assist.  Baptiste then got the defensive rebound on the other end, dishing to Sondberg again outside the arch, where the latter was fouled, sending him to the line for three.  Sondberg sunk all free throws, before on their next look at offense, freshman Jaden Baker sunk a triple from deep to move the score to 9-0.  Clarion answered with their first points of the game just over three minutes in, when they knocked down a triple.  Baker and Sondberg kept the offense going for FSU, helping the Bobcats extend their lead to 14-3 with around five gone in the first. 
 
The Golden Eagles started to get hot from deep, seeing their next two scores from behind the arc to put the score at 19-9.  CU went on an 11-0 run in response, bringing the game within one, before another three for Frostburg, this time from senior JayShaun Freeman, put the Bobcats back on top by five around the midway mark.  Another three from Clarion brought the game within two, but Freeman fed freshman Christopher Meakin for a dunk to see the score at 24-20.  A layup from freshman Tony Pope kept FSU in front, but another triple from the Golden Eagles tied the game at 28.  CU took their first lead of the game on their next bucket around the six minute mark.  Clarion went up by four, before a layup from Baker brought it right back to a one score game.  Another trey from Baker tied the game then at 33, as two free throws from the former gave Frostburg back the lead 35-34.  Baker then traded threes with the Golden Eagles before the end of the half, as Clarion hung on to a 40-38 lead at the break. 
 
Freeman opened the half with another FSU triple, before a dunk from CU put them right back in front.  Another three from Baker a few minutes later gave Frostburg back the lead for a 44-43 game.  Clarion strung together a 9-0 run over the next five minutes, before a layup from sophomore Vilius Slanina broke the streak and sat the game at 52-46.  A free throw from Pope put another point on the board for the Bobcats, before both teams traded missed shots over the next span of minutes. 
 
Now under the halfway mark of the second, CU fight for another six consecutive points, before redshirt junior Justin Roseme sent in a reverse layup for a 58-52 score.  A steal then by Slanina, followed by a fastbreak layup for Frostburg, brought the Bobcats within four but the Golden Eagle sunk another triple from behind the arch to go up by seven.  Baker saw the next four points for FSU, but Clarion found themselves on top 70-58 with five minutes to go.  CU went on another 9-0 run to advance their lead to 79-58, before redshirt senior Naphtali Regilus sunk two free throws to end Frostburg's drought.  Sondberg connected again from deep, as Regilus picked up a steal and a layup, followed by Meakin dunking one home, all for the final points of the game for the Bobcats, as the final score ended 83-67 in favor of Clarion. 
 
Baker finished with a team-high 25 points, shooting 8-for-12 from the field and 5-for-6 from behind the arch, as well as grabbing five rebounds.  Sondberg was next with 17 points and four rebounds, while Baptiste pulled down a team-high seven boards and dished out four assists. 
 
With the loss, Frostburg falls to 1-3 on the season, while Clarion improves to 4-0.  The Bobcats go back on the road for their next contest, facing Bowie State on Tuesday, November 19 at 7 PM.  For more information and updates, please visit frostburgsports.com.