POTSDAM, N.Y.- SUNY Potsdam men's basketball (2-16, 1-11 SUNYAC) defeated SUNY New Paltz (1-16, 0-11 SUNYAC) on Bear Pride Night 73-68 at Jerry Welsh Gymnasium. Freshman guard Jayquan Thomas (Hollis, N.Y./Richmond Hill) led the Bears with 17 points and three steals. Junior guard Dylan Balducci (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massepequa) had game-high 18 points for the Hawks.

New Paltz started off the scoring, but Potsdam answered with 10 straight points with five points coming from freshman guard Danny Delsol-Lowry (Queens, N.Y./Queens H.S. of Teaching). After the mini run from Potsdam, the Hawks shot their way back into the game and tied it up at 27 apiece with 6:15 to go. Junior captain Kevin Baksh (Queens, N.Y./Richmond Hill) stopped New Paltz in their tracks when he drained a shot from behind the arch to ignite a 18-4 run, which included two 3-point plays from Thomas and freshman Aaron Armstrong (Lisbon, N.Y./Madrid-Waddington). Baksh hit two threes and sophomore guard Serigne Kane (Brooklyn, N.Y./Brooklyn Prep) pitched in another. Potsdam closed out the half leading 45-31.

The teams traded baskets over the majority of the second half with the Bears still holding the comfortable 13 point lead after a layup from Thomas. At 7:37, sophomore guard Nick Paquette (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West) hit a three ball to turn the momentum in the Hawks favor. New Paltz went 4-for-4 from the 3-point line over the next two and half minutes of play to get the Bears lead down to one with 4:51 to go. Potsdam settled down to close out the game and hold the 73-68 victory.

Delsol-Lowry and Kane each finished with 13 points and Kane had a team-high nine rebounds. Sophomore guard Nosa Onabor (Brooklyn, N.Y./Northside Charter) tallied nine points and seven rebounds, while fellow sophomore guard Dante Langley (Schuylerville, N.Y./Schuylerville) added seven points, four assists and three boards.

Junior forward James Saunders (Endicott, N.Y./Union-Endicott) recorded 10 points for the Hawks, while senior forward Andrew Seniuk (Wantagh, N.Y./MacArthur) put up eight points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Sophomore guard Cory Garcia (Highland, N.Y./Highland) had a game-high 10 assists to round out the leaders.

Potsdam shot 45-percent from the floor to New Paltz's 44, but the Hawks edged the Bears in rebounds 37-33.

Potsdam is back on the hardwood tomorrow to battle the Red Dragons of Oneonta at 2 p.m.