WHEELING, W. Va. – The Frostburg State Men's Basketball team fell 88-84 on the road to Wheeling Saturday afternoon.
Both teams struggled from the floor to start the game, as it took two and a half minutes until graduate Kyle Whippen drove for a layup. The scoring began to pick up headed into the first media timeout, as Whippen and the Cardinals each split a trip to the line before the hosts hit a layup and three, as FSU responded through a pair of lay-ins by graduate Chase Whippen and a three from sophomore Trey Simmons to lead 10-6.
Wheeling hit back with a four-point play as the sides went back-and-forth, with Chase Whippen driving the lane, Kyle Whippen hitting from deep, and Simmons getting to the cup to stay ahead 17-14. Over the next four minutes, WU made a pair of jumpers and a deep make, while redshirt sophomore Blake Burrows nailed a trey and Simmons got into the paint to hold onto a one-point lead.
It took nearly three minutes for the Bobcats to score again, as the Cardinals got a mid-range jumper and an and-one to lead 26-22. Sophomore Christopher Meakin and Simmons went for back-to-back baskets, with the latter also adding a layup, however Wheeling responded each time to hold a five-point advantage with two and a half minutes left until the break. Within the final minute, Chase Whippen drove to the rim while Wheeling hit a late three to take a 36-30 score into halftime.
Frostburg opened up the second period trimming the deficit down to two as Meakin and Simmons both worked their way inside but WU swiftly answered by scoring the next five. Simmons and Kyle Whippen combined to go four-of-four from the charity stripe, while the Cardinals worked a layup and freebies of their own to go up 47-39 after four minutes.
Each side scored just once over a two-minute span, then Kyle Whippen traded free throws and a jumper with Wheeling to pull within six. Simmons and Chase Whippen scored the next five Bobcat points before freshman Mitch Finefrock knocked down back-to-back triples to get all the way back within 59-57 with 11 minutes to go. WU answered back with a three of their own, while Kyle Whippen got a layup to stay within three.
Another three-minute scoreless stretch put Frostburg in a deeper hole, as the Cardinals converted back-to-back and-ones to go up 68-59. Kyle Whippen scored the next four for FSU, then Simmons and Finefrock combined to go 4-of-5 at the line to get the deficit back down to four. The teams went back-and-forth through the next two minutes, with Simmons hitting from deep while the Whippens went for back-to-back lay-ins, as Wheeling made a pair of dunks, a three, and a layup to stay up 80-74.
After another Cardinal slam, Simmons found Kyle Whippen down low, however the hosts made an important three entering the final minute to hold a seven-point lead. Sophomore Vilius Slanina and Finefrock combined for the next eight FSU points in hopes of holding on but WU made three of their final four freebies to take the 88-84 win.
Simmons led all scorers with 25 points while Kyle Whippen notched a double-double of 24 points and 12 boards. Finefrock (14) and Chase Whippen (12) both also reached double figures.
With the loss, Frostburg drops to 12-12 on the year while Wheeling improves to 15-8. FSU will remain on the road to face Salem (WV) on Wednesday, February 18 at 7:30 p.m. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.
