POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men's basketball team (1-0) rallied past SUNY Canton (0-1) for a 71-69 victory in the first round of the Casella North Country Invitational at Welsh Gymnasium. In the early game, Farmingdale State (1-0) held off Clarkson University for a 71-67 win.

Senior captain Rob Duquette (Peru, N.Y./Peru) recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 boards for the Bears. Sophomore guard Joe Estramonte (Greenwich, N.Y./Greenwich) added a 12, while junior captain Zac Adams (Potsdam, N.Y./Potsdam) and junior forward Rishawd Hendricks (Brooklyn, N.Y./Mount Zion Academy) contributed 11 and 10, respectively.

Freshman guard Rashad Richardson (Rochester, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) led the Kangaroos with 14 points. Fellow freshman guard Sam Annorh (Queens, N.Y./Pathways College Prep) scored 12 on the night, while junior forward Xzavier Fisher (Plymouth, Pa./Harry S. Truman) had a team-high six rebounds.

Canton held a nine-point lead with 15:24 to play in the second half at 52-43, but couldn't put the Bears away. A layup from senior forward Brandon Williams (Brooklyn, N.Y./Boys & Girls) tied the score at 54-54 just over five minutes later. The Kangaroos built their lead back to seven with 8:28 on the clock, but Potsdam went on a 6-0 run to get back to within 61-60. With 3:23 left, Estramonte sparked Potsdam with its lone three-pointer of the night to get the Bears within 65-63. Potsdam closed out the contest with an 8-4 run on free throws and layups from Duquette and Williams.

Canton outshot the Bears 44 to 42 percent from the floor and held a 36-23 advantage in rebounds.