POTSDAM, N.Y.—Northern Vermont University-Lyndon (2-7) shot 60-percent from the floor in the second half to erase a halftime deficit and defeat the SUNY Potsdam men's basketball team (4-4) 94-81 on Saturday afternoon. Junior center Tyrese Baptiste (Brooklyn, N.Y./Eagle Academy II) had another double-double for the Bears with 26 points and 19 rebounds. Freshman guard MeSean Johnson (Ogdensburg, N.Y./Ogdensburg Free Academy) scored a career-high 17 points and freshman forward Parker Kelly (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Beekmantown) added 13. Junior forward Isaac Oduro Jr. (Jamaica, N.Y./Christ the King) also recorded a personal best with 11 points.
 
Potsdam slowly built its lead over the first nine minutes of the contest. A three from Kelly gave the Bears a 6-3 lead 2:20 into the game. At 14:26, junior forward Brandon Segar Jr. (Jamaica, N.Y./Richmond Hill) scored on a layup and the lead was extended to 12-7. A free throw from Kelly at 10:47 made it a 19-12 contest and Potsdam appeared to be on its way. However, the Bears couldn't shake the Hornets. An 8-0 run, including two threes from sophomore guard Mondwell Bukle (Pyeongtaek, South Korea/Stuttgart) gave Lyndon its first lead of the game at 20-19 with 8:57 left in the half. Another Bukle three at 6:53 made it 26-22 Hornets. Lyndon senior guard Zach Falkenburg (Bridgeport, N.Y./Chittenango) followed with another long range basket and the Hornets had a five-point lead at 35-30 with 4:48 on the clock. Lyndon stayed hot from 3-point range and senior guard Luke Fredsell (Whitesboro, N.Y./Westmoreland) hit another at 4:01 for a 38-33 advantage. The Bears finally responded and closed the half on a 13-4 surge. Baptiste scored seven points during the run and Johnson had four. Potsdam led 46-42 at the break.
 
Lyndon opened the second half with the first seven points, including five from Falkenburg, and the Hornets were on top 49-46 with 18:44 to play. Lyndon stayed just in front of the Bears until a three-point play from Johnson at 14:53 made it 56-55 Potsdam. Falkenburg sank another 3-pointer at 13:42 to make it 60-58 Hornets. Potsdam senior forward Dante Viskovich (Massena, N.Y./Massena) answered in kind and Potsdam was briefly back on top. Another Falkenburg three at 12:02 made it 65-61, but Potsdam drew even 40 seconds later. The trend continued as a Johnson layup got the Bears even at 73-73 with 6:22 left. Falkenburg scored five points on back-to-back shots for a 78-74 Lyndon lead at 4:38. Buckets from Baptiste, Kelly and a three from Oduro put Potsdam up 81-78 with 3:16 left. Again Falkenburg answered with consecutive threes and Lyndon was back in front 84-81 at 2:20. Bukle hit another 3-pointer made it a six-point contest and put Potsdam on the ropes at 1:23. The Hornets then put the contest away from the free throw line and closed out the 94-81.
 
Falkenburg led all scorers with 35 points and was 8-for-12 from beyond-the-arc. Bukle had 20 points and was 6-for-8 from 3-point range.
 
The Bears are now off until Friday, January 7, when they head to Buffalo State for a 7:30 p.m. SUNYAC contest.