Simmons' Career Day Not Enough in Men's Basketball Road Loss to Senators

ELKINS, W. Va. – The Frostburg State Men's Basketball team mounted a double digit second half comeback but ultimately fell 91-85 to Davis & Elkins on the road Wednesday evening.
 
On their senior night, the Senators opened up the game 14 seconds in with a layup, then while FSU missed their first shot attempt, senior Koby Baptiste quickly stole the ball back and fed junior Chase Whippen to get on the board. Each side traded buckets for the next three minutes, with freshman Trey Simmons getting into the paint and graduate Eric Sondberg hitting a three that gave the Bobcats a 7-6 advantage.
 
The next four minutes were controlled by D&E, as Frostburg went cold from the floor, while the hosts put in ten unanswered to take a 16-7 lead. Simmons got FSU going again by hitting an and-one followed by another drive to pull back within four. The Senators scored on back-to-back trips while Simmons made a pair at the line and redshirt senior Naphtali Regilus hit from range to stay within five. Davis & Elkins continued to maintain at least a two-possession lead throughout the half, going up by as many as 11 before back-to-back buckets from Baptiste and Simmons and a trip to the line by the former brought the deficit down to 33-28.
 
D&E wouldn't allow the Bobcats to get any closer, as they scored on seven of their next eight trips down the floor, surging ahead 48-34 while making three triples in the process. Baptiste helped settle the nerves going into the locker room, as he was fouled and made both from the charity stripe, though Frostburg still trailed by 12 at the break.
 
Head Coach Zack Thomsen's halftime team talk seemed to have the desired effect on the team, as FSU came out with Sondberg finding Simmons for a layup followed by Baptiste getting fouled on a made three, completing the four-point play and suddenly making it a six-point game. The Senators were able to gather themselves and respond with the next six points, while Whippen and senior JayShaun Freeman each got to the line, making three of their combined four attempts.
 
Facing a 60-48 deficit at the 13-minute mark, Simmons hit a jumper in the lane followed by a close-range basket, then came up with a pair of steals that led to a Whippen score and one of his own, as Baptiste split a pair of freebies to cap a 9-0 run that pulled FSU within three. D&E then make two at the line, but Baptiste nabbed an offensive board and kicked out to sophomore Zane McCarty for a deep make, with Freeman then hitting another off a Whippen pass to stun the home crowd and lead 63-62.
 
From that point, the contest turned into a back-and-forth affair, with the Senators making three of four from the line while McCarty hit a pull-up two and Simmons was found by Sondberg from range. Davis & Elkins was able to get back ahead after a Frostburg turnover and two missed threes, capitalizing on a layup, free throws, and a three for a 74-68 score. Simmons was able to convert on a pair of drives either side of another McCarty trey, but D&E continuously got to the line to maintain their advantage.
 
Now inside the final two minutes, Freeman fed McCarty for his third from behind the arc, while Baptiste was able to grab another offensive miss for a chance at the line, cutting the deficit to one. The Senators kept their cool with four consecutive makes off of fouls, adding on a transition layup to lead by seven. Simmons did his best to keep the game alive, making his second triple and getting a layup to fall while Davis & Elkins missed both of their next free throws with things now at 87-85. FSU's magic ran out from there, as D&E converted in each of their final two possessions, with a last-second dunk ending the scoring at 91-85.
 
Simmons poured in a career-high 38 points, the most by a Bobcat this season and tied for the eighth-most in a single game in program history. Baptiste added 19 points to go with a team-high nine boards, with McCarty chipping in 11 off the bench.
 
With the loss, Frostburg drops to 12-15 on the year, while Davis & Elkins improves to 10-17. FSU hosts their regular season finale against No. 13 Fairmont State at 4 p.m. in Bobcat Arena on Saturday, March 1 where it will be senior day. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.