FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Men's Basketball team beat Point Park 92-68 on Saturday afternoon for their Week of Wishes Game.

Prior to the game, the Bobcats celebrated their two graduates, Chase and Kyle Whippen, by welcoming them and their families onto the court to commemorate their FSU careers, along with cheerleaders Ka-Zarea Jeremiah and Lily Wood.

Having won the opening tip, a Bobcat turnover quickly allowed the Pioneers hit a three, as the sides went back-and-forth, with sophomore Trey Simmons netting a pull-up jumper and a couple free throws, while a layup and an and-one from the visitors put them ahead 8-4 after two minutes. Redshirt freshman DJ Daniel ensured PPU wouldn't add to that lead, coming up with a steal and an and-one before going back-to-back with Kyle Whippen for a couple layups either side of a three from the visitors for an 11-11 tie. Over the next four minutes, the only points between either side came at the free throw line, with Point Park adding on a jumper to regain a 15-12 advantage. Simmons then split a trip at the stripe and gathered a defensive board, driving coast-to-coast for a lay-in to even things at 15-15.

After Kaden Warner hit a jumper for the visitors to go up by two, FSU's defense clamped down, holding the Pioneers scoreless over the next five minutes. In the same time, the offense began to click, starting with Daniel getting another steal and feeding freshman Mitch Finefrock behind the arc in transition. Chase Whippen then scored the next seven Bobcat points on three layups and an and-one before a Simmons steal allowed redshirt sophomore Blake Burrows to drive to the rim while also finding junior Zane McCarty for a triple to go up 30-17. Warner tried to stop the bleeding for PPU with a pull-up jumper while teammate Jaylen Stewart added another 30 seconds later, however neither score phased Frostburg, as they kept adding on with a triple from Simmons and a layup by Kyle Whippen, staying up by 14. Point Park wouldn't get another basket the rest of the half, as FSU piled on the pressure, starting on a putback from Chase Whippen, who then dimed to his brother from behind the arc, as the latter then swatted away a shot and got to the free throw line to make it a 42-21 first half lead.

Both sides came out of the break with a flurry of offense, as Simmons pulled up for two, Kyle Whippen muscled in for a basket, and Finefrock netted two threes, as Warner carried the Pioneers with a pair of threes and a lay-in but still trailed 53-29. Two minutes later, the teams traded scores again, with an and-one and layup for PPU answered by Simmons finding Chase Whippen, who in turn found Daniel in the paint for an and-one followed by a Finefrock layup, bringing the score to 60-37. After a Point Park split trip to the line, Daniel landed a straightaway triple before Simmons and Kyle Whippen landed two jumpers and a layup from the latter, followed by a McCarty three, putting the Bobcats' lead back to 23 at the 10-minute mark. 

Daniel landed another and-one and a three, as Warner again provided his team's offense through the next eight points, however Chase Whippen made a layup and Kyle Whippen followed with a putback, keeping FSU's lead at 82-57. After a three-minute scoring drought, the Pioneers made a lay-in, a pair at the line, and a jumper, while Frostburg kept going through Daniel converting 2-for-2 at the line and a three on a Burrows assist to lead by 24. In the last two minutes of the game, Kyle and Chase Whippen went for a tip-in and a three, respectively, as PPU finished the scoring from the stripe for the 92-68 final.

Daniel had an all-round day, leading the team in points (24), assists (5), and steals (3). Chase Whippen recorded a double-double with 16 points and a game-high 15 boards, as Kyle Whippen (19), Simmons (14), and Finefrock (11) each recorded double-digit scoring figures.

With the win, Frostburg improves to 13-13 overall, as the Pioneers drop to 7-17.  FSU is back at Bobcat Arena for their final home game of the season, facing Davis & Elkins on Wednesday, February 25 at 7:30 pm. For more information, please visit frostburgsports.com.