FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Men's Basketball team fell to West Virginia State on Saturday afternoon with a final score of 96-83 at home.
West Virginia State took the first points of the game after a miss from Frostburg, as freshman Jaden Baker put in the first points of the game for FSU on their next attempt. A three from graduate Eric Sondberg then worked to put the Bobcats in front 6-5. The Yellow Jackets responded with a three of their own to put them in control 9-5, before another trey from WVSU gave them a 12-5 advantage, forcing FSU to call a timeout. Free throws from redshirt freshman Blake Burrows put Frostburg back on the board, but West Virginia State took the next two scores to keep their lead. Burrows connected from deep to see an 18-13 game, but the Yellow Jackets answered with their own trey from deep on their next trip down the court. Back-to-back scores underneath from junior Chase Whippen saw a 21-16 score, as scores from senior Koby Baptiste got the game within five right before the midway mark.
Burrows burried a three to get FSU within two, before a steal from Burrows, followed by a free throw, saw a one-point game. Burrows traded scores with West Virginia State, knocking down a triple to tie the game at 26. WVSU responded with a 7-0 run to jump back in front, as sophomore Vilius Slanina and Baker helped get the Bobcats back within four. The Yellow Jackets did everything they needed to stay in front, as freshman Christopher Meakin got his first points of the day at the free throw line. Burrows earned more points at the charity stripe, while senior JayShaun Freeman knocked down a jumper for a 47-39 score. Freeman tallied one more jumper before the end of the half, sending the game into the break with WVSU on top 53-41.
WVSU took the first points of the second, as Slanina responded with an and-one to get the scoring going for the Bobcats. Both teams traded scores, with Baptiste picking up points in the lane and at the charity stripe. Baker secured a fastbreak layup to get the game within nine, but West Virginia State scored on their next possession to go back up by 11. Frostburg worked to get it to a six point game off a layup from Burrows, before a layup from Baptiste saw the score at 65-61. Baptiste laid in another bucket for just a two-point game, but the Yellow Jackets buried a three to jump back in front by five.
Buckets from Baker and redshirt junior Justin Roseme tied the game at 69 with 9:23 left in regulation. WVSU stayed just one step ahead, keeping their lead with just a one-point game. Both teams continued to swap points, with West Virginia State just staying one step ahead. The Yellow Jackets sparked for a 9-0 run to see an 84-75 lead, before three free throws from Burrows brought the game to 84-78. Another layup from Slanina saw another four-point game, before WVSU sealed the game with a 12-point run, as a final three from Baker put the game at a 96-83 final.
Baker finished with a team-high 20 points and four rebounds, while Burrows was next with 19 points, and Baptiste filed in with 18. Baptiste was credited with a team-high six rebounds, while Burrows grabbed four.
With the loss, Frostburg falls to 2-7 on the season, while West Virginia State moves to 4-3. The Bobcats will stay at home for their next game, welcoming in Concord at 7:30 PM on Wednesday, December 11. For more information and updates, please visit frostburgsports.com.
