PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Frostburg State Men's Basketball team survived a back-and-forth matchup against Point Park, defeating the hosts 79-76 in overtime on Saturday.
 
After a scoreless first minute, PPU got the scoring started before sophomore Christopher Meakin pulled down an offensive rebound that led to freshman Mitch Finefrock hitting a three. The Pioneers then used their defensive pressure to push ahead, as FSU's only points over a three-minute stretch came through sophomore Trey Simmons getting a layup, while the hosts had a pair of threes, an and-one, and a layup to push ahead 13-5.
 
Simmons hit a pair at the line trying to get some momentum but Point Park hit right back with a trey and a layup to lead 18-7. The Bobcats finally got some stops defensively, as redshirt freshman DJ Daniel got a steal and fed Simmons, then graduate Kyle Whippen hit a putback and grabbed another steal that led to another Simmons score before junior Zane McCarty did the same, getting the ball to Meakin in transition to pull all the way back within three.
 
Over the next four minutes, the only score came through a PPU jumper, while redshirt sophomore Blake Burrows knocked in a pair of free throws. It would be another two and a half minutes before FSU scored again, while a jumper, three-pointer, and freebies put Point Park back ahead 27-17. Simmons got to the line again, with the Pioneers answering followed by a two-minute scoreless period. Whippen got things going again with an offensive board while Finefrock passed to Simmons to fire from deep, as the former added a fastbreak lay-in to end the half down 31-26.
 
Whippen and Simmons continued the scoring into the second period with a pair of quick baskets that brought Frostburg within a point, however Point Park was able to score and stay up by three. The hosts looked to pull away again with two straight buckets but Daniel hit a three to stay within 37-35.
 
Following a pair of PPU freebies, Daniel swatted away a shot that led him feeding Finefrock for a triple, then came up with a steal and assisted Whippen on a layup to take their first lead since the opening minute at 40-39. The Pioneers tried to reestablish their advantage with a pair of lay-ins and a deep make, while the Bobcats were limited to one Simmons free throw, giving the hosts a 46-41 lead.
 
Junior Vilius Slanina got his first points on the board from a three, though the Pioneers hit back with one of their own. Whippen and Simmons proceeded to go three-of-four from the line, while McCarty hit a trey to give Frostburg the lead back 50-49. The sides then went back-and-forth at the line before a turnaround jumper by PPU put them up 55-53 with eight minutes to go.
 
It would be another two minutes before the next points, as Finefrock knocked in two at the stripe and was found by Simmons following a steal for three to go up 58-55. A full two minutes of high-powered offense saw each team hit a pair of triples, three combined free throws, and a pair of layups, as Finefrock's deep make kept the Bobcats ahead by four with two minutes to go. Point Park then responded in force, making a pair of layups either side of two missed free throws by FSU, then a stepback jumper with 25 seconds left put them up by 70-68. Out of a Bobcat timeout, Simmons drove into the lane and equalized the game with 16 seconds on the clock. PPU drew up a play, but Frostburg's defense was equal to it, as a pull-up three bounced off the rim and brought overtime.
 
The Pioneers got the scoring started in the extra period, converting a layup after a minute and 20 seconds. Meakin then drove into the paint and got his own missed shot to fall, then answered another bucket with a baseline dunk off a Simmons pass for a 74-74 score. Neither team could make the most of their next possessions, as with 30 seconds to go, a driving lay-in on the right side put Point Park ahead by two. Following another Frostburg timeout, Simmons muscled his way inside and got fouled, with his shot bouncing multiple times off the rim before swishing in, as he converted the old-fashioned three-point play to take a one-point lead. Off of the inbounds, a smart trap by the Bobcat defense resulted in Simmons swiping the ball away and getting fouled with four seconds left. He knocked down both from the stripe to push ahead 79-76, as a last-second Pioneer heave went wide of the mark to give FSU the win.
 
Simmons led all scorers by a wide margin on 35 points, while Finefrock (14) and Whippen (11) added double figures and the latter pulling down a game-high 12 boards. Simmons and Daniel also tied for the team lead with four assists and a pair of steals apiece.
 
With the win, Frostburg improves to 9-7 on the year, while Point Park drops to 3-11. FSU will return to Bobcat Arena on Wednesday, January 21 at 7:30 p.m. against West Virginia Wesleyan.