POTSDAM, N.Y.- The SUNY Potsdam men's basketball team (1-12, 0-7 SUNYAC) fell to SUNY Cortland (10-4, 5-2 SUNYAC) 82-56 on Friday night at Jerry Welsh Gymnasium. Freshman guard Jayquan Thomas (Hollis, N.Y./Richmond Hill) had a game-high 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds for the Bears. For the Red Dragons, sophomore forward Zach Lydon (Elizaville, N.Y./Stissing Mountain) finished with 15 points.
 
Potsdam and Cortland traded baskets during the first five minutes of the contest. The Bears took a three-point lead after a layup from freshman guard Danny Delsol-Lowry (Queens, N.Y./Queens H.S. of Teaching) at 14:47 before the Red Dragons ignited for a 25-7 run that spanned for 10 minutes. Thomas drained a 3-pointer with 4:32 to go and tacked on another six point to close out the half with Potsdam trailing 48-32.
 
Sophomore guard Justin Cooper (Pine Plains, N.Y./Stissing Mountain) hit a layup to start the next 20 minutes followed by two layups from sophomore guard Nosa Onabor (Brooklyn, N.Y./Northside Charter) and Delsol-Lowry. Then the Red Dragons put together another 15-5 run. Sophomore guard Serigne Kane (Brooklyn, N.Y./Brooklyn Prep) drilled a shot from behind the arch at 11:31 with Thomas adding a layup a minute later. Sophomore guard Andrew Hoag (Hoosick Falls, N.Y./Hoosick Falls) tacked on two free throws and Thomas put up two more points following a steal. Cortland tallied another 13 points over the next six minutes, which led to their 82-56 win.  
 
Freshman forward Kristoff Saunders (Queens, N.Y./Queens H.S. of Teaching) and Kane each finished with seven points, while Saunders picked up seven rebounds. Onabor had a game-high nine rebounds on the night and Delsol-Lowry added six points.
 
Cooper and junior forward Carrel Joseph (Port-au-Prince, Haiti/Deer Park) each finished with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Senior guard Michael Kelly (Monroe, N.Y./Burke Catholic) tacked on nine points, while sophomore forward Justin Prendergast (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury) had a team-high seven boards.
 
The Red Dragons edged the Bears in rebounds 43-42, while Cortland shot 43-percent to Potsdam's 36.
 
The Bears are back at Jerry Welsh Gymnasium to take on Oswego State at 2 p.m.