Lewis' Late Heroics Give Men's Basketball Win Over WVWC, First of Thomsen's Tenure

BUCKHANNON, W. Va. – Four players reached double figures in helping Head Men's Basketball Coach Zack Thomsen get his first Frostburg State win in an 86-83 road victory over West Virginia Wesleyan on Tuesday night.
 
Both teams struggled from the field early on, with just one made basket between the two sides just under three minutes into the game. Freshman Malcolm Day got FSU going, knocking down a trey, followed by a freshman Logan Lewis put-back for a 6-2 lead. WVWC hit a three at the other end, to which freshman Zane McCarty responded with a mid-range jumper. Three minutes went by before another score went up on the board, this time it was junior JayShaun Freeman's turn to hit from distance after being found by redshirt sophomore Justin Roseme.
 
Each side traded buckets throughout the next few possessions, with Day scoring either side of a senior Jaylon Johnson triple to push Frostburg ahead 18-13 at the 10:32 mark. Wesleyan switched into a zone defense that gave FSU some fits, as the only basket scored for five and a half minutes came from senior Jaylin Albury banking in a three, while the hosts fought their way back to a 27-21 lead.
 
Junior Koby Baptiste ended the scoring drought with an offensive board and score in the lane, then Day converted an and-one on a second-chance opportunity to bring Frostburg within four. WVWC knocked down a pair of long-range shots, but McCarty and Day responded each time to keep FSU within touching distance. Johnson drove into the lane and hit a pull-up shot, then Baptiste grabbed the former's three-point miss and put it back to tie things at 36-36. Wesleyan gathered themselves at the end of the half, hitting a tough two to lead 38-36 headed to the locker room.
 
Thomsen's halftime talk lit a fire under his squad, as Frostburg made the first four shots of the second period in racing out to a seven-point lead. Lewis sparked the run with a tough bucket in the lane, then Johnson nailed from downtown and found sophomore Dylan Long in stride for a basket, then Baptiste capped the run with yet another put-back make for a 45-38 advantage in the first three minutes.
 
Wesleyan scored on their next three possessions, but FSU's offense couldn't be slowed, as Lewis, Johnson, Long, and senior Cole Harshman combined for 11 points that stretched the lead to 11. WVWC looked for an answer from behind the arc, to which Freeman quickly answered with his own make from deep, as the score stood at 61-52 with 12:30 on the clock. After trading free throws, Freeman scored in transition, followed by Harshman being found by junior Robby Williams for Frostburg's biggest lead at 67-55.
 
At the midway point in the frame, Wesleyan began to work their way back into the game, hitting a pair of threes and a trio of mid-range buckets, with Freeman providing the only FSU offense in seeing the lead dwindle to just four. Lewis took over in the final six minutes, making back-to-back shots, the latter being a corner three off a Johnson assist, keeping Frostburg ahead 76-69. WVWC simply wouldn't go away, making another shot before going four-of-four at the charity stripe to suddenly get within one in the late stages of the game.
 
Lewis was determined to help his team earn their first win on the season, spinning through the lane for a tough lay-in, then earning a steal, converting both free throws, and again making a bucket on the next possession for an 82-78 Frostburg advantage with two minutes left. FSU had to hold on to their breath defensively, as Wesleyan had three chances to score on their next possession, but couldn't convert any of their shots, eventually knocking the ball out of bounds to leave empty-handed. Receiving the ball in the backcourt, Johnson drove down the floor and was fouled at mid-court, converting one of his two free throws for a five-point lead inside the final minute.
 
WVWC knocked down a clutch three in response, but Lewis got into the lane once more, scoring to keep it a two-possession game. Johnson was whistled for a foul at the other end, allowing Wesleyan to make a couple freebies and get within two. Lewis was quickly fouled on receiving the resulting inbounds, making one of his two with 12 seconds on the clock, giving WVWC a late chance to tie. Driving down the floor, their first attempt from deep missed, but Dieker Padrino grabbed the rebound and shot a hopeful deep ball at the buzzer, but came up empty-handed, giving FSU the narrow 86-83 win.
 
Lewis led all scorers with 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting, joined in double figures by Day (15), Johnson (14), and Freeman (12). Baptiste chipped in with a game-high 11 rebounds, while Lewis and Johnson tied for the team lead in assists, each providing four.
 
With the win, Frostburg improves to 1-4 on the year, while Wesleyan falls to 1-5. FSU returns to the court immediately following the holiday break, where they face Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday, November 25 at 3 p.m. in the first game of the IRMC Thanksgiving Classic, hosted by Indiana (Pa.). Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.