HAMBURG, N.Y. – The SUNY Potsdam men's basketball team (0-1) fell to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1-0) 65-53 in the opening matchup of the Hilbert Hawks Tip-Off Tournament. Senior forward Brandon Segar Jr. (Jamaica, N.Y./Richmond Hill) registered a double-double scoring 14 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore Jeff Williamson (Brooklyn, N.Y./Christ the King) tallied 13 points and six rebounds.
 
The Bears opened the game on a 10-3 run led by junior guard Colton Huestis (Ticonderoga, N.Y./Ticonderoga) who scored eight in that stretch. Soon after the run, the Engineers began to battle back, tying the game at 12 with seven minutes remaining in the first half. At 6:55, the Bears went on a 7-2 run that was sparked by sophomore forward Parker Kelly (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Beekmantown) draining a three-pointer to put Potsdam up by three. Segar followed Kelly by hitting two back-to-back jumpers to extend the Bears lead 19-14 at 4:16. With five seconds remaining in the first half, junior guard Isaac Oduro Jr. (Jamaica, N.Y./Christ the King) made a timely steal and found Williamson wide open for a three-point make to end the half. Potsdam took a 24-20 lead into the break.
 
Keeping the foot on the pedal, Potsdam went on an 8-2 run to start the second half. Segar scored five points in the run while Huestis sank three straight free throws to give the Bears a 32-22 advantage at 16:38. However, the Engineers continued to fight back into the game, going on a 14-4 run of their own to tie the game at 36 with 10:52 remaining. Over the next three minutes, the Engineers gained an advantage over the Bears. RPI leads 46-39 at 5:59. About two minutes later, Oduro nailed a jumper to get the Bears back within six with four minutes remaining in the half. The Bears efforts to chip back into this game were quickly countered by another 16-10 run by RPI. This run closed out the half and sealed the win for the Engineers.
 
Huestis ended the game with 13 points to compliment his teammate. Sophomore guard MeSean Johnson (Ogdensburg, N.Y./Ogdensburg Free Academy) recorded three points and six rebounds during the contest.
 
Jonny Angbazo scored 19 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Engineers. Dom Black tallied 11 points and five rebounds.
 
The Bears are back in action tomorrow when they play Morrisville State at 1 p.m. in the final matchup of the Hilbert Hawks Tip-Off Tournament.