MADISON, N.J.—The SUNY Potsdam men's basketball team (0-1) fell to Drew University (1-0) 98-73 in the first round of the Rose City Classic. Senior guard Joe Estramonte (Greenwich, N.Y./Greenwich) led the Bears with 18 points and in his collegiate debut, freshman guard Nosa Onabor (Brooklyn, N.Y./Northside Charter) scored 12 points.

Potsdam battled the host Rangers tightly for the first half of the opening 20 minutes. At 10:55, freshman guard Tyrone Adeyeye (Brooklyn, N.Y./Benjamin Banneker) drained a three to get the Bears within 20-17. Drew answered with a 12-2 run over the next two minutes. Estramonte slowed the momentum with a 3-pointer of his own and started a 16-7 Potsdam rally. An Estromonte jumper closed the gap to 39-35 with 3:49 left in the half, but Rangers distanced themselves again and took a 47-38 advantage into the locker room.

Potsdam continue to stay with Drew early in the second half. Senior guard Mitch Lamerson (Dansville, N.Y./Dansville) used a layup to get the Bears to within 58-52 with 13:23 to play. However, Rangers caught fire with an 18-1 run over the next five minutes. Potsdam nearly matched Drew point-for-point over the remainder of the contest, but couldn't gain any ground.

Sophomore forward Josh Blagrove (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Ford) also reached double digits with 10 points. Freshman forward Dante Langley (Schuylerville, N.Y./Schuylerville) scored eight points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds in his first college action.

Kevin Herring II led the Rangers with 25 points and Joey Feinberg scored 20. Mike Klinger, Yonathan Napoleon and Brian Oehme chipped in 10 apiece, while Nate Aldrich totaled a contest-best 11 rebounds.

Next, the Bears face Mount Union in the consolation game tomorrow at 2 p.m.