PLATTSBURGH, N.Y.—Sophomore guard Colton Huestis (Ticonderoga, N.Y./Ticonderoga) scored a career-high 25 points as the SUNY Potsdam men's basketball team (2-2, 1-0 SUNYAC) defeated Plattsburgh State (1-5, 0-1) 84-80 on Tuesday night. Junior forward Brandon Segar Jr. (Jamaica, N.Y./Richmond Hill) added a double-double with 20 points and 17 boards and freshman guard MeSean Johnson (Ogdensburg, N.Y./Ogdensburg Free Academy) scored a personal-best 13 points to go with seven assists.
 
The first half was tightly contested until late. The Cardinals built a 4-0 lead out of the gate, but a 3-pointer from Huestis gave Potsdam its first lead at 17:23. Cameron Ness scored on a layup 21 seconds later to make it 6-5, but Plattsburgh never led again. Huestis hit two free throws and a layup sandwiched around a bucket from freshman forward Parker Kelly (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Beekmantown) and Potsdam led 11-6. The Cardinals tied the game at 14:14 with a layup from Justin Blanchett. The pattern of the Bears building a small lead and Plattsburgh closing repeated itself until sophomore center Chris Becker (Lake George, N.Y./Lake George) scored inside at 6:12 to make it 24-21 Potsdam. The layup ignited a 16-8 run to close the half. Segar followed with a dunk at 5:32 to keep the momentum going. Segar had eight points during the charge and freshman guard Jeff Williamson (Brooklyn, N.Y./Christ the King) drained two threes. Potsdam led 38-25 at the half.
 
Kelly buried a shot from long range to open the second half and the Bears never looked back. Kevin Tabb hit a 3-pointer for Plattsburgh at 16:46 to close within 43-36, but Huestis immediately answered with a three of his own to return the lead to 10. Huestis hit back-to-back shots from beyond-the-arc to make it 57-38 Potsdam with 14:18 left and the lead grew. Segar hit two free throws at 12:06 and the Bears were up 21 points. A layup from Kelly made it 66-44 for Potsdam's largest lead of the contest. A 17-5 Cardinals run capped by a Sheriff Conteh three-point play whittled the advantage down to 71-61 with 6:19 to play. Franklin Infante buried a three at 2:15 and Plattsburgh was down just 77-74. However, the Bears recovered and held on for the 84-80 win.
 
Parker finished the night with nine points and seven rebounds in his hometown. Williams had eight points and five rebounds and junior guard Reginald Smith Jr. (Chicago, Ill./Argo Community) contributed seven points and four boards.
 
Erik Salo scored a game-high 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Cardinals. Tabb just missed a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds along with six assists and three steals. Ness scored 14 points and totaled 10 boards and Conteh added 10 points.
 
Potsdam has won three straight against Plattsburgh and leads the all-time series 72-66 dating back to February 4, 1948.
 
The Bears are back in action on Friday night when they host SUNY New Paltz at 7:30 p.m.