Published: February 01, 2008 01:58 pm         

Frostburg State wins thriller

Belt scores 30 points, seals 81-80 victory with blocked shot

FROSTBURG - Brian Green made the game-winning free throw with 39 seconds left and Jade Belt blocked a layup with two seconds to go as Frostburg State defeated Pitt-Greensburg 81-80 in an Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference men's basketball game Wednesday night at Bobcat Arena.

Frostburg State (5-13 overall, 4-7 AMCC) trailed by as many as 12 points midway through the second half, but Green hit a three-pointer to pull the Bobcats to within one (78-77) at 2:32.

Pitt-Greensburg (7-11, 6-5) hit a pair of free throws to move back ahead by three, but FSU's Busha Koffa hit a foul shot and Jamal Bracken a break away layup to tie the game 80-80.

Green then made a free throw to put FSU up 81-80. On the ensuing trip down the floor for UPG, Torrey Sochacki missed a three-pointer and Belt came up with a blocked layup to seal the victory.

Belt poured in a season-high 30 points and pulled down 11 boards to pace FSU. Belt shot 13-of-18 (72 percent) from the field. Junior Juan Wansley chipped in 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting, and Green scored 14 points, backed by an 8-of-12 performance from the foul line.

Pitt-Greensburg, currently third in the AMCC, was led by Darnell Hampton with 21 points and Daniel Waajid with 14 points and 13 rebounds.

Pitt-Greensburg held a decisive 41-26 edge in rebounding but Frostburg State led in second-chance points (12-7) and forced 29 turnovers.

FSU led by as many 10 points at the midway point in the opening half but Greensburg battled back to take a two-point lead at 6:08 on a thunderous dunk from Hampton. FSU would pull away for a seven-point lat in the half but Greensburg narrowed the count to 40-37 at the break.

In the second half, the game was tied at 44 just two minutes into action before Pitt-Greensburg began to pull away, using a 20-6 run to open a 12-point advantage with 10:42 left.

The Bobcats play ag ain Saturday at Medaille at 3 p.m.