Three Point Barrage Sets Record, Leads Men's Basketball Past Pioneers

FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Men's Basketball team set a new program record by making 17 three-pointers in a dominant 107-70 home win over Point Park on Saturday.
 
After the first five possessions without a score, redshirt junior Justin Roseme got the scoring started with FSU's first three of the day off a feed from senior Koby Baptiste, who then eased into a layup with the former returning the favor. The Pioneers got on the board with a deep make of their own but a mid-range jumper from senior JayShaun Freeman and a wide-open hit from the top of the arc from junior Chase Whippen put the Bobcats ahead by seven. Following another PPU pull-up trey, Freeman once again got a smooth jumper to fall and Whippen was again left open for three after grabbing an offensive board.
 
Whippen then turned provider on a Freeman lay-in, Baptiste put back his own miss, and Freeman added onto the fun from distance for a 22-8 lead after eight minutes. Point Park worked their way back into the game on the defensive end, holding Frostburg scoreless for nearly three minutes while adding a dunk, triple, and jumper to get back within seven. Not yet learning their lesson, the Pioneers allowed Whippen to hit his fourth three, then Baptiste worked into the paint for a bucket to go back up by 12.
 
Still PPU wouldn't let the game get out of hand, as they scored the next five points, then weathered an and-one from Baptiste, who along with Whippen continued to find their range, but couldn't prevent the visitors from getting within 36-33 with four minutes until the half. A minute and a half later, graduate Eric Sondberg was found by Freeman for a rhythm three, but Point Park still hung around, keeping the deficit at five after getting two-of-two at the line. The final 80 seconds of the half, however, belonged to the Bobcats, as sophomore Vilius Slanina, Freeman, and Whippen all buried deep shots to surge ahead 51-37 at the break.
 
The Pioneers scored on two of their first three possessions to start the second 20 but would get no closer than 11 points the rest of the way, as FSU went on a 20-2 run over the next four minutes. Baptiste took control of proceedings, scoring a three, an and-one, and a coast-to-coast layup, with Whippen tacking on his sixth triple for a 64-42 lead within the first three minutes. Roseme and Slanina each got to the line and went perfect, then Freeman took advantage of a Whippen steal with another from range and Baptiste bullied his way in for a 73-44 score.
 
Freeman elevated again by scoring Frostburg's next seven points, while Baptiste made a smooth pass to find Whippen alone under the basket as the advantage grew to 32. PPU went on an 8-0 run and held the Bobcats scoreless for nearly three minutes, which ended after Baptiste was fouled, hitting both freebies and then getting a scoop-and-dunk immediately after. Whippen, Freeman, and Sondberg all kept the offense moving, with the latter getting the record-setting three to fall after being found by Baptiste in the corner for a 95-62 game.
 
Redshirt senior Naphtali Regilus broke a nearly two-minute scoring drought as both teams gave their bench players a chance to shine over the last couple minutes. Freshman Brady Walters swatted away a shot on the defensive end, with redshirt freshman Blake Burrows then going the other way for an easy finish, then freshman Kadon Fossett added the 17^th and final deep shot to move FSU over the century mark. A hard foul after a steal by sophomore Zane McCarty resulted in technical fouls for both teams, as after the sides separated, he and redshirt freshman Cash Herndon combined for three at the charity stripe to end things 107-70.
 
Freeman led the team in nearly every category, flirting with a triple-double at 28 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. Baptiste was close behind with 27 points while Whippen added 22.
 
With the win, Frostburg improves to 8-8 on the year, while Point Park drops to 9-7. FSU will next face West Virginia Wesleyan on the road Wednesday, January 22 for a 7:30 p.m. match-up. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.