POTSDAM, N.Y.- University of Mount Union (1-1) controlled the SUNY Potsdam men's basketball team (0-2) Saturday afternoon. The Bears fell to the Purple Raiders 70-56 in the consolation game at the Rose City Classic. Sophomore forward Josh Blagrove (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Ford) led Potsdam with 14 points and six rebounds, while Cody Dillion finished with 14 points and three steals for Mount Union. Senior guard Joe Estramonte (Greenwich, N.Y./Greenwich Central) was named to the All-Tournament team. 
 
The Bears jumped out to a six-point lead in the first four minutes before the Purple Raiders' offense ignited. At 16:38, Tommy Sterger hit the boards hard for a tip-in to start a 17-0 run. After a couple of Purple Raider fouls, Blagrove went 4-4 from the free throw line then hit a 3-pointer at 7:52 to close the gap to eight points. The rest of the half the teams each compiled eight fouls and Potsdam took advantage going 11-14 from the line. With 1:43 to go, freshman guard Nosa Onabor (Brooklyn, N.Y./Northside Charter) drained a three to get the Bears within four, but Dillion answered with a 3-pointer and a layup to bring the score to 36-27 at halftime.
 
Mount Union wasted no time attacking Potsdam's defense. Michael Shull hit a layup in the paint to start a 14-2 run over a six-minute span before being capped by a three from Jarrett Ruffin. The teams battled back-and-forth for the next several minutes before senior guard Marquis Lee (Brooklyn, N.Y./Nazareth) knocked down a jumper to start a 10-2 run for the Bears. The rally came up short as the clock ticked down to zero to close out the 70-56 victory for Mount Union.
 
Onabor finished with 11 points while going 8-8 from the free throw line and Lee put up 10 points. Freshman forward Tyrone Adeyeye (Brooklyn, N.Y./Benjamin Banneker) grabbed team-high eight boards and totaled six points.
 
Shull reached double-digits with 11 points and Ruffin added 10 with eight rebounds.
 
Potsdam will host the North Country Invitational this upcoming weekend. The Bears will open with SUNY Poly at 8 p.m. in Jerry Welsh Gymnasium.