POTSDAM, N.Y. – The SUNY Potsdam men's basketball team (3-2, 2-0 SUNYAC) squeaked out a close win over SUNY New Paltz (2-3, 0-1) 75-72 on Friday night. Junior center Tyrese Baptiste (Brooklyn N.Y./Eagle Academy II) recorded a dominant double-double with 22 points and a career-high 21 rebounds. Freshman forward Parker Kelly (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Beekmantown) and sophomore guard Colton Huestis (Ticonderoga, N.Y./Ticonderoga) registered 14 and 13 points, respectively.
 
Both teams started off the first half trading baskets as the lead changed three times in the opening 15:10. After sophomore guard Rylan Blondo (Brooklyn, N.Y./Lynbrook) put the Hawks up 16-12 at 14:39, the Bears realized the need to raise their energy. About a minute later, junior forward Brandon Segar, Jr. (Jamaica, N.Y./Richmond Hill) missed a jump shot. Baptiste however, was right there to clean up his miss and scored a layup off the offensive rebound. This basket trimmed the New Paltz lead to two points with 13:20 remaining. The Hawks then went on an 8-3 run that was led by sophomore forward Tyreik Frazier (Westbury, N.Y./Westbury) who made a layup and a putback slam. New Paltz leads Potsdam 24-17 at 10:14. The Bears then sparked a 12-2 run of their own. Freshman guard Jeff Williamson (Brooklyn, N.Y./Christ the King) scored two consecutive jumpers while Kelly and Huestis nailed back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Bears a 29-26 lead at 4:48. With the Bears leading 32-31, Hawks sophomore forward Lucas Seyoum (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) swished a 3-pointer to put New Paltz up 34-32 with 1:48 left in the half. About 10 seconds later, Blondo fouled Huestis as he was going to the basket, resulting in two free throws. He sank one of two, allowing the Hawks to take a one-point advantage into halftime.
 
New Paltz couldn't miss to start the second half as sophomore guard Solomon Neuhaus (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Williston Northampton) hit two triples to extend the Hawks lead 42-36 at 17:56. After a made free throw by Blondo, New Paltz looked seemed confident in their 46-41 lead at 14:21. However, Bears senior forward Dante Viskovich (Massena, N.Y./Massena) nailed a 3-pointer on the next play to close the gap 46-44. About a minute later, Parker was fouled in the act of shooting by Hawks junior forward Isaiah Bien-Aise (Westbury, N.Y./Westbury). He hit both of his free throws from the charity stripe, tying the game at 46-46. The following play at 13:01, Williamson sank a 3-pointer to give the Bears a 49-46 edge. Neuhaus later drained a 3-pointer at 10:36 to trim the Bears' advantage to 53-52. Shortly after the made triple, Potsdam lost freshman guard MeSean Johnson (Ogdensburg, N.Y./Ogdensburg Free Academy) to a technical foul at 10:10. Replacing Johnson was sophomore guard Isaac Oduro Jr. (Jamaica, N.Y./Christ the King). Oduro put the Bears on his back, scoring the next six points for Potsdam to extend the lead 59-56 with 7:31 left. Both teams continued to trade baskets until Neuhaus capitalized on a Bears turnover, putting the Hawks back on top 70-69 with 1:50 left. In the clutch, Kelly drove to the basket and laid in a contested shot to take a 71-70 advantage over the Hawks at 1:32. Unphased by the incredible pressure from the raucous Potsdam crowd, Blondo grabbed one of his fourteen rebounds and converted a layup for a Hawks 72-71 lead at 1:11. With 51 seconds remaining, Kelly converted a tough turn-around jump shot to put the Bears back on top 73-72. In an effort to extend the game, the Hawks immediately fouled Oduro. He split his shots putting the Potsdam lead to two with 31 seconds left. The Hawks failed grab the lead in their last two possession due to Potsdam's stifling defense. As a last-ditch effort, New Paltz fouled Baptiste one last time with two seconds remaining. Baptiste sank one of two free throws and sealed the victory over the Hawks 75-72.
 
Williamson finished the game with seven points while Oduro finished with eight. Baptiste registered two blocks on the night while Segar had two steals. Potsdam shot an impressive 47% from the field as a team.
 
Blondo led New Paltz with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Neuhaus finished with 15 points and sophomore guard Sean St. Lucia (Niskayuna, N.Y./Niskayuna) added 11.
 
The Bears are now 76-40 against the Hawks in the all-time series dating back to 1948. Potsdam has won nine of the last 11 meetings and Coach Bechtel is 7-1 against New Paltz.
 
The Bears are back at home tomorrow as they face Oneonta State at 4 p.m.