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West Virginia State University Athletics

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Photo: Todd Griffith
91
Winner West Virginia St. WVSt 15-5,11-3 MEC
86
Frostburg St. FSU 2-19,2-12 MEC
Winner
West Virginia St. WVSt
15-5,11-3 MEC
91
Final
86
Frostburg St. FSU
2-19,2-12 MEC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
West Virginia St. WVSt 35 56 91
Frostburg St. FSU 30 56 86

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | James Garcia, Sports Information Director

Yellow Jackets set new benchmark with ninth-straight win at Frostburg

FROSTBURG, Md. – West Virginia State men's basketball (15-5, 11-3 MEC) won its ninth-straight game against Frostburg State (2-19, 2-12 MEC) by a final score of 91-86 on Wednesday night at the Bobcat Arena. With the down-to-the-wire victory, the Yellow Jackets bested their impressive win streak at the start of last season that did not include two wins over nationally-ranked opponents.

The top of the MEC standings did not change since Charleston and West Liberty were also both victorious on Wednesday night. WVSU is still tied with the Hilltoppers in second place while UC tops the conference with one less loss in league play.

Forward Arthur Cox led West Virginia State in scoring with 21 points. He also grabbed eight rebounds. Guard Mahzi Thames posted a season-high 18 points. Fellow guard Miguel Martinez was the only other Yellow Jacket to score in double-figures with 13 points. 

Frostburg went up 9-0 in the opening three minutes before West Virginia State responded with seven unanswered points over the next two minutes. Arthur Cox sank a pair of free throws to open scoring for WVSU before he completed a three-point play.

The Bobcats increased their lead back to nine points, 16-7, by the 12-minute mark before the Yellow Jackets began chipping away at it. West Virginia State embarked on a 17-4 run over the ensuing six or so minutes to change the lead for the first time. WVSU caused six turnovers during the stretch to shift the momentum. Mahzi Thames (6) and Antonio Carter (5) combined for 11 points to help their team to a four-point advantage, 24-20, on the other side of the six-minute mark.

The Yellow Jackets slightly edged Frostburg, 11-10, in what remained of the first half. They kept the lead in doing so and extended it to five points, 35-30, at halftime after Ricky Rollins made a single free throw with less than a minute remaining.

West Virginia State briefly extended its lead to double-figures, 42-32, with a 7-2 run in the first two minutes of the second half. Miguel Martinez drained a triple to give his team the 10-point cushion.

The Bobcats gradually chipped away at the lead until they reduced it to a single point, 63-62, around the eight-minute mark after back-to-back layups.

As close as Frostburg came to taking the lead, the Yellow Jackets kept making crucial shots to stay in front. When the game's final commercial timeout was taken, West Virginia State clung to a three-point advantage, 75-72.

The Bobcats finally caught up when Robby Williams made a three-point bucket to tie the score at 77-apiece with 3:45 left to play. He made another three-pointer around the two-minute mark to change the lead, 84-83, for the first time in the second half.

Jumpers were then traded before Anthony Pittman was sent to the charity stripe and sank both of his free throws to put his team back on top, 87-86, with 32 seconds remaining.

Frostburg missed a jumper and a put-back layup after the inbound before Kahari Rogers came down with the rebound. He was fouled immediately and made both of his free throw attempts, 89-86.

The Bobcats were left with enough time to attempt a three but bounced it off the rim. Pittman grabbed the rebound and was sent to the foul line to make two shots and give the game its final score, 91-86.

The Yellow Jackets can keep their win streak going by getting past Fairmont State at the Walker Convocation Center on Saturday, Feb. 10 next. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.
 
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