NEW PALTZ, N.Y. –The SUNY Potsdam men's basketball team (5-1) defeated the SUNY New Paltz Hawks (2-3) 83-70 in its SUNYAC opener on Friday evening. In a game of runs, the Bears got the win behind a career-high 21-point performance from sophomore guard Isaiah Joseph (Harlem, N.Y./Izquierdo Health & Science Charter). Joseph connected on six 3-pointers, also a career high. Senior captain Jayquan Thomas (Queens, N.Y./Queens High School of Teaching) scored 15 points on the night.
 
The Hawks opened the scoring on their home floor with a layup by junior guard Jake Passaretti. The Bears came out strong, as they responded with a 13-0 run. The run was capped by an offensive putback from senior captain Aaron Armstrong (Libson, N.Y./Madrid-Waddington). The Hawks then began a run of their own at the 14:44 mark. The 9-0 stretch was ignited and finished with two layups from junior guard Richard Altenord. Armstrong's 3-pointer from the top of the key halted the run by New Paltz at 13:06. Two minutes later, New Paltz tied the game at 16 after freshman guard RJ Meyers-Turner's three from the right wing. With 8:30 left, after a layup from Bears senior captain Danny Delsol-Lowry (Queens, N.Y./Queens High School of Teaching), senior forward Tristan Wissemann came back and drilled a three, giving the Hawks their first lead at 21-20. The Bears once again responded, with a 7-0 run, wrapped up by Thomas' shot from behind-the-arc. New Paltz got within one again at the 4:00 mark, but Joseph interrupted the home team's run with a three. Thomas went on to score eight of the team's last 10 points in the half with a series of long range shots. The Bears led 42-35 at the half.
 
Four minutes into the second period, the Bears were back up by double digits when Delsol-Lowry made a catch and shoot 3-pointer. Joseph picked up where he left off in the second, drilling two more threes halfway through the final 20 minutes, putting the Bears up by 17. Using its aggressiveness in the paint and free throw shooting, Potsdam eventually took a 20-point lead with two minutes left, and went on to secure the 83-70 road victory.
 
Turner ended with a game-high 23 points for the Hawks and grabbed five rebounds. Wisseman scored 12 points and pulled down seven boards.
 
For the Bears, Armstrong finished with 11 points and seven rebounds and freshman center Tyrese Baptise (Brooklyn, N.Y./ Eagle Academy II) had another double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
 
Potsdam shot 45 percent from the field and 38 percent from behind-the-arc, while New Paltz shot 41 percent from the field and 50 percent from three.
 
The Bears are off to their best start since the 2008-09 season when they also started 5-1 and are perfect (5-0) against Division III opponents. Potsdam has won seven straight against the Hawks, dating back to a 73-68 victory in Welsh Gym on January 27, 2017. Coach Bechtel has never lost to New Paltz.
 
The Bears continue their road trip tomorrow as they face SUNY Oneonta at 4 p.m.