FROSTBURG, MD – The last time the York College men's basketball team faced Frostburg State University, the Spartans pulled out a dramatic come-from-behind victory over the Bobcats in the first round of the Capital Athletic Conference tournament last February. There would be no Spartan heroics in Wednesday night's CAC contest at Frostburg as the Bobcats bounced the Spartans 70-47 in Frostburg, MD.
The Spartans fall to 6-10 overall and 2-3 in the CAC while the Bobcats improve to 7-10 overall and 2-3 in the league.
The first half was a horror show for the Green and White as turnovers and cold shooting led to a big first half for the Bobcats. Frostburg opened up a 14-6 lead just under eight minutes into the game. The Spartans cut their deficit to 16-10 two minutes later but that's when things went bad for York in a hurry.
Frostburg's defense starting turning the Spartans over and also started hitting shots as the Bobcats started a 7-0 run. The Spartans' Jeremy Skoloda (Leola, Pa./Conestoga Valley) hit a lay up at the 7:50 mark, cutting the Bobcat lead to 26-12. Frostburg would then hold York scoreless for the remainder of the half as they scored 13 straight points to take a 39-12 lead to the break.
Frostburg outscored York 20-2 over the final 11:18 of the half, as the game was all but decided in the opening 20 minutes of play. York committed 12 first half turnovers while they went just 5-of-20 from the floor. Conversely, the Bobcats were hot from the field as they converted 17-for-33 (52%) in the opening stanza.
York opened the half with a 10-3 run, cutting their deficit to 20 but the Spartans couldn't get out of the hole that was dug in the first half. York trimmed the lead to 19 twice in the second half but that was as close as they would get.
Christian Jackson, the CAC's leading scorer at 27.5 points per game, led the Bobcats with 17 points on 7-of-15 shooting including 2-for-6 from three. He added two assists and two steals for FSU. Jackson entered the game ranked third in the nation in scoring but was held over 10 points under his season average in the win. Kwambia Coker added 14 points and eight rebounds to the Bobcat effort. Jabari Kamau was the third Bobcat in double figures with 13 points while he led the Bobcats with nine rebounds.
York was led by the duo of Mike Mathews (Newark, Del./Salesianum) and Julian Watson (Odenton, Md./Arundel) as they each had 13 points. Mathews was 6-for-11 from the floor including 1-for-2 from three. Watson was 4-for-10 from the field including a three pointer. Watson made all four of his free throw attempts.
Senior Todd Maciejewski (Red Lion, Pa./Red Lion) led the Spartans on the glass with eight rebounds while he also had four points.
The Bobcats finished the game shooting 50% as they went 29-for-58 from the field. They went 7-for-21 from three while they converted 5-of-9 from the stripe. The Spartans shot dramatically better in the second half (13-of-30) but finished the game at 36% after the 25% effort in the first half. York made 8-of-11 from the stripe.
Frostburg State forced 15 Spartan turnovers as they finished the night with 12 steals. York forced only six Bobcat miscues in the loss. Both teams had 33 total rebounds in the game.
The Spartans return to Wolf Gymnasium on Saturday to host Mary Washington in a key conference contest. Tip time in York is set for 3:00 pm.