Box Score The SUNY Potsdam men's basketball team was tied late in the second half at rival Plattsburgh on Tuesday, but came away with an 80-71 loss in a State University of New York Athletic Conference match-up at Plattsburgh, N.Y.

The Bears (6-12 overall, 5-6 SUNYAC) tied the game at 70-70 with 3:49 left in the second half after a 3-pointer by senior Eddie Cross (Hudson, N.Y.).

However, the Cardinals (13-5, 9-2) ended the contest on a 10-1 run, making 8-for-10 from the free throw line over the final 2:40, to pick up their fifth straight win.

Sophomore Curtis Pierce (Brooklyn, N.Y.) recorded his fourth double-double of the season with a 19-point, 10-rebound effort to lead Potsdam, which converted only 11-of-25 from the free throw line, compared to 23-of-35 for Plattsburgh.

"We had some opportunities and fought back several times, but they got into the paint late in the game and hit their free throws," Potsdam coach Sherry Dobbs said. "I liked our effort, intensity and toughness ... there are just some things we need to clean up."

Cross tallied 13 points off the bench, while senior Anthony Williams (Long Island, N.Y.) and freshman Tony Efese (Spring Valley, N.Y.) finished with 12 points apiece.

The Bears trailed for all of the first half and most of the second. They took a 38-37 lead, their first of the game, with 19:18 to play on a 3-pointer by Efese.

Potsdam then trailed by nine with just under eight minutes to play before a combination of lay-ups and free throws, and 3-pointers by Cross, evened the score.

The Bears continue league play this Friday at Geneseo at 8 p.m.