FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Men's Basketball team used a second half rally to defeat Glenville State 94-85 at home on Saturday.
 
In a fast-paced start to the game, both sides had three-pointers to open their scoring, as freshman Mitch Finefrock hit for FSU while graduate Kyle Whippen got a steal that eventually led to a layup, with GSU responding on a long two for a 5-5 tie after just 90 seconds. The Pioneers hit a pair of layups either side of another Finefrock triple before adding another of their own to go up 12-8 with five minutes gone. Finefrock continued to have his range with another deep make, then redshirt freshman DJ Daniel knocked down back-to-back treys before a Whippen jumper put the Bobcats ahead 19-14.
 
Over the next four minutes, the sides went back-and-forth, as sophomore Trey Simmons got to the cup after another Whippen steal, then junior Zane McCarty hit back-to-back threes as Glenville countered with a deep make and a pair of freebies to get within 27-26. Simmons then drove for pair of lay-ins to go with a trip to the line, as Whippen helped keep GSU off the board for nearly three minutes with a block, while Finefrock hit his fourth triple and redshirt sophomore Blake Burrows got into the paint for a 38-28 lead with five minutes to go.
 
The Pioneers tried to get back into the game at the charity stripe by making three of four, followed by a pair of layups, however Finefrock's fifth trey of the half along with easy makes from Whippen and Simmons kept the advantage at 10. In the final three minutes, Glenville caught fire on offense, making three from deep as Frostburg got just one Simmons bucket down the stretch, clinging onto a 47-46 halftime lead.
 
As they had started the game, both sides were hot from the field to begin the second frame, as GSU hit a pair of layups and a mid-range jumper, while Finefrock got to the line and Simmons knocked down a three for a 52-52 stalemate. The Pioneers then locked in defensively, going on a 10-3 run in which they went five-of-five at the line to go with a trey, as FSU's only points came on Simmons finding Burrows from deep, trailing 62-55 five minutes in.
 
Daniel broke the drought with a needed three, then a Burrows steal resulted in McCarty driving the lane to get within two. Frostburg continued their momentum with Daniel again nailing a triple while McCarty came up with a steal and a dish to Finefrock in transition before sophomore Christopher Meakin split his free throws to tie thins at 66-66.
 
For the next five minutes, the sides could barely be separated, as Meakin again got to the stripe while Simmons and Daniel combined for a trio of buckets, however the Pioneers made their free shots and hit a floater in the lane to lead 78-75. That field goal would be Glenville's lone basket over a three-minute stretch, as the Bobcat defense was able to use a combination of four misses and steals by Simmons and Daniel to keep them off the board. On offense, Simmons took over with a couple of tough jump shots, while Daniel's swipe led to an easy lay-in while Whippen converted all four of his freebies to lead 85-80.
 
With two and a half minutes left, Whippen then ensured that the Pioneers wouldn't get any easy baskets, rising high to smack a layup attempt off the backboard as Finefrock and McCarty kept the points coming at the stripe. Simmons then put the highlight stamp on the game, driving the lane and slamming home a power dunk that put the advantage at 11, with Finefrock then getting out in transition off a rebound for an easy basket. Glenville made two at the line followed by a late three, however that would be their final points as Simmons split a late trip and Daniel swatted yet another shot away for the 94-85 final.
 
Five different Bobcats reached double-digit scoring on the day, led by Simmons' 27 and followed by Finefrock (23), Daniel (16), Whippen (10), and McCarty (10). FSU made 14 threes on the day, tying for the second-most in a single game in program history.
 
With the win, Frostburg improves to 4-5 on the year and 2-2 in MEC play, while Glenville drops to 4-5 and 1-3. FSU will return to Bobcat Arena on Thursday, December 18 to face Charleston (WV) at 7:30 p.m. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.