POTSDAM, N.Y.- Oswego State (15-7, 11-4 SUNYAC) pulls away from SUNY Potsdam men's basketball team (2-18, 1-13 SUNYAC) in the second half to take the 83-55 victory over the Bears Friday night at Max Ziel Gymnasium. Senior guard Rishawd Hendricks (Brooklyn, N.Y./Mount Zion Christian Academy) led the Bears with 14 points and seven rebounds and Lakers' Walter Sampson paced Oswego State with 21 points.

Junior guard Joe Estramonte (Greenwich, N.Y./Greenwich Central) opened the game with a three to get the Bears on the board early. The teams exchanged baskets over the next three and half minutes. At 16:21, Lakers' guard Kyle Covley hit from behind the arch to tie the game at five apiece. Potsdam answered with a 14-5 run that was capped with a jumper by senior captain Greg Torchon (Spring Valley, N.Y./St. Joesph Regional) to put the Bears up by nine with less than 10 minutes remaining. Oswego State turned up the offense and went on a 24-2 run to finish out the half. Lakers' Brian Sortino tallied 10 points during the run to lead Oswego State into the break with a 34-22 lead.

Play evened out during the first five and half minutes of play in the second half, but the Lakers maintained their lead. Two free throws by Rashawn Powell started another 12-0 run for Oswego State before freshman guard Matt Piercey (Ogdensburg, N.Y./Ogdensburg Free Academy) drove the lane for a layup and was fouled. Piercey completed the three-point-play to swing the momentum back to the Bears. Potsdam matched the Lakers in the last 10 minutes of play, but couldn't gain any ground on the score board. Oswego State held on to take the 83-55 win over the Bears.

Torchon added nine points and six boards while fellow senior captain Zac Adams (Potsdam, N.Y./Potsdam) tallied eight points and six rebounds. Sortino finished with 15 points and Powell fell short of a double-double with 12 points and grabbed nine rebounds.

The Bears are back in action tomorrow as they travel to SUNY Cortland to take on the Red Dragons at 2 p.m.