FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Men's Basketball team secured their third consecutive last-minute victory in a come-from-behind 89-87 decision over D'Youville Monday afternoon.
 
FSU struggled from the field early on, not getting on the board until over two minutes in, while Maxence Massadila got a layup and a three for the Saints to lead by five. Redshirt freshman DJ Daniel got the Bobcats going with a putback dunk before graduate Kyle Whippen was found by sophomore Trey Simmons, however the visitors responded each time, putting their advantage at 11-4.
 
Daniel dished to freshman Mitch Finefrock for a wing three before hitting a layup to get back to within two, but back-to-back DYU triples grew their lead up to eight. Over the next four minutes, Whippen hit a mid-range jumper while Finefrock was again accurate from distance either side of a D'Youville lay-in to bring things to 19-17 at the midway point of the half. The Saints again put themselves at arms' length with two more treys and a transition layup following a steal, establishing their largest lead at 10 and bringing a timeout from head coach Zack Thomsen.
 
The stoppage reignited the Bobcat offense, as a pair of offensive rebounds resulted in Finefrock netting again from deep, while redshirt sophomore Blake Burrows nailed a couple of his own before a Simmons swipe led the former for an easy layup and cutting the deficit down to 29-28. DYU then took their opening timeout and got a putback out of it, however Simmons tied the game on an and-one and Daniel provided the first Frostburg lead with a pull-up jumper at 33-31 with six minutes on the clock.
 
Each side went back-and-forth over a two-minute stretch, with Simmons and Daniel combining for three freebies and Finefrock adding his fifth triple of the half to put the FSU advantage at four. The final two and a half minutes belonged to the Saints, as they held Frostburg scoreless while getting a pair of layups and a trip to the line to head into the half with a 41-39 lead.
 
D'Youville continued their late momentum into the second period, netting the first six points through four combined free throws and a layup to move ahead by eight. Simmons and Finefrock took over the Bobcat offense with their next nine points to get back within four, however a pair of layups and three combined makes at the stripe led DYU ahead 59-48 at the first media timeout. Daniel then got to the line hoping to get some life back to Frostburg, as Simmons hit from mid-range and Finefrock notched another three to put the deficit at six.
 
Sophomore Christopher Meakin provided a highlight dunk, leaping through traffic to slam home an offensive board while also getting a couple free throws but a layup, and-one, and three kept the Saints ahead 69-59. Needing a spark, FSU began to light up from behind the arc, as Burrows, junior Zane McCarty, and Meakin all netted triples to suddenly make it a three-point game. D'Youville calmed themselves momentarily by splitting a trip to the line and getting into the lane, but a Simmons free throw, Daniel and-one, and Burrows trey brought the Bobcats all the way back to a 75-74 lead.
 
After DYU responded with a three of their own, Burrows brough the bench to its feet with a pair of heat-check treys either side of a Daniel lay-in, while Simmons went perfect from the line and made a fantastic back cut for an easy layup on a Burrows pass to lead 87-79. The Saints were able to keep themselves alive with a needed make from behind the arc, then after missed possessions from each side, hit a pair of free throws to get within 87-84 with 33 seconds to go. Taking 20 seconds in the next possession, Simmons tried to get to the cup but wasn't able to finish, as Sean Reynolds hit a dagger pull-up three to tie things at 87 with 10 seconds on the clock. Out of FSU's final timeout, Simmons had the ball in his hands for the third consecutive game with a chance to take a late winner, as he took a few dribbles and tried to fire a 20-footer where he was fouled on the play. Keeping his nerve, he was able to knock both freebies down, as D'Youville's late heave fell well short and giving the Bobcats the 89-87 final.
 
Finefrock led Frostburg with 25 points and seven made threes, tying for the second-most in a single game in program history. Burrows added six triples on a season-high 18, which matched by Simmons and followed by Daniel's 14. Daniel was also all over the floor, leading FSU in assists (7) and steals (2), while Meakin pulled down a team-high eight rebounds.
 
With the win, the Bobcats improve to 7-5 on the year, while DYU drops to 2-10. Frostburg returns to conference play on Wednesday, January 7 on the road at No. 16 West Liberty, with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.