Pope Leads All Scorers in Men's Basketball's Road Loss to Shepherd

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – The Frostburg State Men's Basketball team fell in their first road game of the season on Wednesday evening by a final score of 73-62 to Shepherd.
 
Both teams traded misses to open the game, with both squads looking for their first points over two minutes into the action.  Shepherd was able to get on the board first, jumping out to a 7-0 early lead.  After over three minutes, graduate Eric Sondberg put Frostburg on the board, connecting on a three from deep.  Redshirt senior Naphtali Regilus brought the game to 7-5 off a layup in the paint, but the Rams were able to respond with a three to increase their lead to five.  Both teams saw a slow next two minutes, before senior JayShaun Freeman got on the board with a jumper.  Freeman then connected on a three, before sophomore Zane McCarty then converted from deep, putting the Bobcats out in front 13-12. 
 
Now under the midway mark of the first, freshman Jaden Baker secured a jumper, before Regilus made one from deep to increase FSU's lead to 18-12.  SU was able to get back in on the scoring action, seeing a 2-for-2 trip from the free throw line to add to their score.  Each team saw a turnover, before Shepherd went on a 19-0 run to jump in front 31-18 with 2:45 left in the half.  Junior Manok Lual was able to get Frostburg on the board with a free throw, as back-to-back jumpers from freshman Tony Pope put the score at 31-23.  Pope connected on a three for the last points of the half for either team, sending the game into the break with a 34-26 score. 
 
SU opened the scoring in the second half with five straight buckets to increase their lead to 43-26.  Redshirt junior Justin Roseme knocked down a three for the Bobcats, before senior Koby Baptiste was able to knock down a pair of free throws to bring the game to 43-31.  The Rams took the next five points, before Pope was credited with a steal, driving down the court for a fastbreak layup.  Pope knocked down another jumper and a free throw for Frostburg, but Shepherd continued to hit their shots and show their offense, sitting with a 54-36 lead. 
 
With around 11:30 left in the half, Pope hit another three, followed by a jumper in the paint to bring the score to 54-41.  Freshman Christopher Meakin got in on the scoring action, knocking down a three from deep, as FSU started their 15-0 run.  Freeman and Sondberg contributed points for the Bobcats, as Frostburg was able to get within seven.  The Rams were able to take the next six points to get back on track, before Pope collected another trey, and another jumper, to get FSU within eight with just over four minutes left to play.  Both teams swapped free throws, as points from Baptiste allowed the Bobcats to see a 67-60 game.  FSU missed their next couple shots with time winding out, as Roseme scored the last points of the game for Frostburg, allowing the final score to read 73-62 in favor of Shepherd. 
 
Pope led all scorers with 24 points on 10-for-17 shooting.  Freeman finished with eight points and four rebounds, while Sondberg secured seven points and five rebounds.  Baptiste and Meakin grabbed a team-high six boards each. 
 
With the loss, Frostburg falls to 1-2 on the season, while Shepherd moves to 2-1.  The Bobcats return home for their next game, welcoming in Clarion at 3 PM on Saturday, November 16.  For more information and updates, please visit frostburgsports.com.