FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Men's Basketball team took down West Virginia State 95-79 at home on Wednesday evening, led by freshman Mitch Finefrock's record-setting three-point performance.
 
After a scoreless first minute, it would be Finefrock to get things started on a feed by redshirt freshman DJ Daniel, however the Yellow Jackets responded with an and-one and a lay-in to go up 5-3. Sophomore Trey Simmons split a trip to the charity stripe as the game became a back-and-forth affair, with the visitors getting a pair of lay-ins and a free throw, while Finefrock nailed a pair from deep either side of assisting Simmons on a layup to regain a 12-10 advantage five minutes in.
 
Coming out of the first media timeout, graduate Chase Whippen, in his first game back after nearly two months out, came up with a steal leading to a Simmons triple before scoring himself on a pass from his twin and classmate Kyle Whippen. The Bobcat defense held firm in a near-five-minute stretch, limiting WV State to just one point while Kyle Whippen scored four straight between the line and a layup, then Simmons drove in for a fastbreak score after a steal by redshirt sophomore Blake Burrows and Daniel was fouled, converting both for a 25-11 lead.
 
An offensive rebound allowed WVSU to end their field goal drought, as they also got to the line following a Daniel drive to the cup. Frostburg's offense was just heating up, however, as Simmons nailed from behind the arc, Daniel finished off an old-fashioned three-point play, and the former got to the line again for a 35-15 advantage with eight minutes to go in the half. The Yellow Jackets drove into the lane again but Kyle Whippen rose highest for a putback lay-in, then fed Finefrock for a trey, who then made the most of a one-and-one to push the lead up to 25.
 
The next five minutes went by with WV State again struggling from the field, making just one basket during the stretch while Simmons stole the ball and dished to Daniel to flush home, while Chase Whippen split a trip to the line. WVSU was able to get some offense going over the final two and a half minutes, hitting a pair of jumpers to go with a free throw, but FSU ended the half with the upper hand, as Kyle Whippen went to the stripe and Daniel got to the rim before coming up with a block to end the half up 49-24.
 
Both offenses were efficient to begin the second period, as Daniel and Kyle Whippen converted lay-ins in response to a pair by WV State, then another Finefrock trey kept the lead at 28 after the first two minutes. The Yellow Jackets were much more effective getting buckets to fall than in the first half, driving in for an and-one and a mid-range jumper either side of a pair of Daniel free throws, as he ended up scoring seven Frostburg points in a row, splitting another two trips to the line before hitting from deep for a 63-35 lead.
 
WVSU mad their first three-pointer of the game just over five minutes into the half, but Burrows was right there to respond after a great pass by Kyle Whippen. Both teams scored regularly through a three-minute stretch, as WV State went 4-for-4 at the line while adding two layups and a dunk, while FSU countered with Chase Whippen finding sophomore Christopher Meakin for an easy two and Daniel and Finefrock firing from deep either side of the latter being found by Burrows off a steal to lead 75-48 midway through the period.
 
The Yellow Jackets had one of their best defensive stretches of the game over the next four minutes, holding the Bobcats scoreless while adding a trio of layups, a three, and a pair from the stripe to pull back within 16 at 78-62 with six minutes to go. Neither defense seemed able to get stops, as Chase Whippen helped stem the tide by getting to the line, while Finefrock and Simmons combined for a trio of triples before Kyle Whippen got into the paint but the lead stayed nearly the same at a 91-74 advantage.
 
Over the final two minutes, the back-and-forth action continued, with WVSU getting to the line and hitting a pair of lay-ins, however Simmons and Kyle Whippen both responded offensively. Frostburg was able to see the clock run out in coming away with the 95-79 victory.
 
Finefrock led all scorers with 31 points, going 9-for-19 from behind the arc and setting a new program record for threes made in a single game, passing the previous mark of eight set by former standout Terry Kenner in 2019. Daniel filled up the stat sheet with 23 points, 9 boards, 5 assists, 5 steals, and 2 blocks, as Simmons (18) and Kyle Whippen (14) also reached double figures, with the latter tacking on a career-high 8 assists.
 
With the win, FSU improves to 12-9 on the year, while WVSU drops to 5-16. The Bobcats will next head on the road to face Charleston (WV) on Saturday, February 7 at 4 p.m. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.