POTSDAM, N.Y.—SUNY Oneonta (12-13, 8-10 SUNYAC) built an early lead against the SUNY Potsdam men's basketball team (11-14, 6-12 SUNYAC) and hung on for a 72-60 win on Saturday afternoon. Junior guard Nosa Onabor (Brooklyn, N.Y./Northside Charter) came off the bench to lead the Bears with 22 points and seven rebounds. Harrison Deegan had a team-high 16 points for the Red Dragons.

Oneonta came out of the gates with a 13-5 run through the first five minutes. The stretch was halted by sophomore guard Jayquan Thomas (Hollis, N.Y./Richmond Hill) scoring four straight points to narrow the gap to four. Immediately, the Red Dragons answered with seven straight in a 90-second span. Onabor countered with eight consecutive points, including two shots from beyond the arc, to bring the deficit to just 20-17 with 9:07 remaining in the half. For the rest of the half, both teams went bucket-for-bucket with one another. After scoring the last few points of the half, Oneonta entered the break leading Potsdam 36-27.

After Onabor and junior guard Dante Langley (Schuylerville, N.Y./Schuylerville) sank consecutive three-pointers, the Bears were down just six with 16:59 to play. The Red Dragons answered with another a 13-5 run and pushed the lead to 14, the largest of the day. During the stretch Kevin Mackin scored seven of Oneonta's points. The lead was cut down to eight with 7:08 left, after Thomas scored six straight. After going back-and-forth, senior guard Kevin Baksh (Queens, N.Y./Richmond Hill) hit a pair of free-throws to close to within eight at the 4:23 mark. Oneonta was able to stay on top of Potsdam for the rest of the contest, outscoring them 13-9 and finishing the 72-60 victory. Onabor, sophomore guard Aaron Armstrong (Libson, N.Y./Madrid-Waddington) and senior Matt Piercey (Ogdensburg, N.Y./Ogdensburg Free Academy) scored for the Bears in their final push.

Thomas led the starters for Potsdam with 17 points, four assists, and two steals. Armstrong had two points to go along with his three assists and six rebounds.

Ian Schultz finished with 15 points, while Carson Jacobs had a 15-point, 11-rebound double-double. Mackin ended with 12 points and Sean Nolan put up 10 with nine rebounds.

Oneonta shot 41.1 percent from the field while Potsdam shot 37.7 percent. The Red Dragons also out-rebounded the Bears 41-32.

The contest marks the end of the careers of seniors Baksh and Piercey, who were honored prior to the game on Senior Day.

The Bears' 11 victories were the most by a Potsdam team since they won 12 during the 2008-09 season.