POTSDAM, N.Y. --- The SUNY Potsdam men's basketball team (11-8, 7-5 SUNYAC) fell to SUNY Plattsburgh (15-4, 9-3 SUNYAC) 77-75 in overtime on Tuesday night. After the Cardinals had the advantage in the first half, the Bears rallied in the second half with clutch baskets and free throws to send the game into overtime. The Cardinals were eventually able to put the Bears away with their free throw shooting and time on their side. Junior guard Danny Delsol-Lowry (Queens, N.Y./Queens High School of Technology) had an all-around game with 15 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. Senior forward Dante Langley (Schuylerville, N.Y./Schuylerville) and junior guard Jayquan Thomas (Hollis, N.Y./Richmond Hill) each scored 14 points on the night. Senior guard Brandon Johnson (Greenburgh, N.Y./Woodlands) finished with a game-high 23 points to lead the Cardinals to the win. Senior forward Johnathan Patron (Huntington, N.Y./Harborfield) had 20 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for the Cardinals.

The Cardinals started the game well with their aggressiveness in the paint, drawing fouls on the Bears and converting on their and-one opportunities. Plattsburgh built a nine-point lead after a missed shot inside by the Bears, and Johnson connected on the first three-pointer for the Cardinals on the other end. Langley built momentum for the Bears with two straight three pointers. First on a drive and kick from Thomas, then on the next play Langley found himself open after an offensive rebound for a three from the corner, bringing Potsdam to a 19-16 deficit with 11:04 to go in the first. After both teams exchanged shots inside, Johnson pushed the lead to 11 after a three from the top of the key, followed by a steal and fastbreak layup with 6:37 left in the first. In the final couple minutes both teams exchanged baskets with junior guard Nick DeAngelis (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) hitting a three from the top of the key. Sophomore forward Dante Vikskovich (Massena, N.Y./Massena) ended the half on a shot inside off the pass from junior guard Aaron Armstrong (Lisbon, N.Y./Madrid-Waddington). The Cardinals led the Bears 40-31 at halftime. Langley and Johnson both finished with 12 points for each of their teams respectively at the end of the first.

The Bears got off to a hot start in the second half with an 11-2 run. The run featured fastbreak layups from Onabor and Thomas, coupled with senior forward Serigne Kane's (Brooklyn, N.Y./Brooklyn Prep) two shots inside and Armstrong's three off the drive and kick. Most of the remaining second half was back-and-forth play between both teams. Potsdam's defense brought them to within two after Armstrong intercepted a pass at mid court then dished to Delsol-Lowry for a fastbreak layup with 1:54 remaining. Coming out of the timeout, Johnson drilled a jumper from the free throw line to keep the Cardinals up four with just over a minute remaining. After being fouled Thomas knocked down both free throws to keep Potsdam in the game. Thomas then tied the game with a second remaining after grabbing the offensive rebound and making the putback off a missed three. The Cardinals had an opportunity to win the game and was forced to take a half-court heave that missed.

Thomas opened up the scoring in overtime with a made free throw which put the Bears up one. Ian Howard then knocked down two free throws to give the Cardinals back the advantage. The two teams would then exchange baskets with Kane scoring off the Delsol-Lowry pass inside, followed by Johnson's fastbreak layup. With the game tied, Plattsburgh put themselves up three points after Johnson knocked down two free throws with 2:16 left. Senior guard Chris Middleton (New York, N.Y./Cardinal Hayes) and sophomore guard Travis Cox (Brooklyn, N.Y./Frederick Douglass Academy) each made one free throw with 26 seconds remaining. Down four with 11 seconds remaining, Delsol-Lowry grabbed the rebound after a Plattsburgh free throw and dribbled the length of the court for a layup, bringing Potsdam to within two. After being intentionally fouled, the Cardinals missed both free throws, but the Bears who were out of timeouts were forced to throw up a prayer by Viskovich that didn't fall and the Cardinals won 77-75.

Plattsburgh shot 42 percent from the field, while Potsdam shot 40 percent.

Langley scored his 1000th point with a layup at the 4:16 mark of the second half.

The Bears are back on the road Friday as they take on Fredonia at 7:30 p.m.