Second Half Senators Run Downs Men's Basketball in MEC Opener

FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Men's Basketball team fell at home 85-78 in their MEC opener against Davis & Elkins.
 
FSU got out to a quick start, as junior Jaden Baker and senior Koby Baptiste each scored in the first minute and a half, then after the Senators responded with a pair buckets of their own, Baptiste put back an offensive board while freshman Christopher Meakin drove down the baseline and slammed home for a 10-6 lead. Meakin then rescued a possession off a missed shot, with Baker the recipient of a lay-in, as he then got a deep three to fall while being fouled to push ahead 13-8.
 
D&E answered back with a trey and a quick lay-up to tie things up. Senior JayShaun Freeman got the lead back briefly off a Baptiste assist, but Davis & Elkins was still in rhythm, getting a layup in the lane followed by another from distance to go up 18-15. Baker got into the paint once again, then Freeman picked up a steal and fed the former on a fastbreak to go up one, but the Senators scored the next six to lead 24-19. Freshman Tony Pope and sophomore Vilius Slanina each went perfect at the line either side of a graduate Eric Sondberg bucket, though D&E got a dunk at the other end to maintain a five-point advantage.
 
After Meakin hit a pair of freebies, Davis & Elkins used the offensive glass to secure the highest margin so far at 34-27, but Baptiste earned a hard-fought layup before a Sondberg steal led to Baker nailing a triple to pull within two. The sides traded baskets inside three minutes to go, as Baker found Sondberg for three before assisting Meakin as well on a lay-in for a 38-38 tie. The Senators went one-of-two at the line, while Baker again drove to the hole, but it would be the visitors to once again fight on the glass for a third chance tip-in as time expired to lead 41-40.
 
Meakin and Baker provided multiple sparks to begin the second half, the former blocking a pair of shots and the latter getting a lay-in followed by a steal and assist to Sondberg on a breakaway flush to quickly go up 44-41. D&E didn't let the deficit last long, hitting a quick three in response to tie things before following up with another to lead by three. Freeman hit a pull-up jumper with Baker getting out in transition for a make to regain the lead, but six straight from Davis & Elkins put them back up 53-48.
 
Meakin dished to Slanina for a make behind the arc, then Baker hit a floater in the lane, as the two then went for back-to-back baskets and a 57-55 lead. With 11 minutes on the clock, D&E kicked into another gear, making a pair from deep that bookended an 11-point run that included three free throws to suddenly go ahead 66-57. Baker got to the cup again, while Meakin went perfect at the charity stripe and Sondberg had an easy find off a look from Baker to pull within four.
 
Now inside the final five minutes, a dagger Senator three put them up seven, but Meakin and Baker combined to go three-of-four from the line to stay within reach. As time continued to tick down, back-to-back buckets gave Davis & Elkins an eight-point advantage, then as Baker drove again to pull within six, it would be the closest the Bobcats go the rest of the way until the final seconds. Seven made free throws late on put D&E out of reach, as Meakin had one late bucket in the lane to put the final at 85-78.
 
For the third game in a row, Baker surpassed his career-high with 33 points and 11 rebounds, topping off his first career double-double, with Meakin coming a board short with 13 and pair of blocks. Sondberg joined them in double figures with 11 points and a game-high four steals.
 
With the loss, Frostburg drops to 1-5 on the year, while Davis & Elkins improves to 3-3. FSU returns to Bobcat Arena in their final game before the Thanksgiving break against West Virginia Wesleyan on Tuesday, November 26 at 7:30 p.m. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.