HAMBURG, N.Y. – The SUNY Potsdam men's basketball team (0-2) bowed to Morrisville State (1-1) 99-89 to conclude the Hilbert Hawks Tip-Off Tournament.  Junior forward Ahamadou Sillah (Bronx, N.Y./Kipp NYC College Prep) scored a career-high 32 points while shooting 67% from the field. Senior forward Brandon Segar Jr. (Jamaica, N.Y./Richmond Hill) posted a monster double-double of 20 points and 19 rebounds and was selected to the All-Tournament Team.
 
The Bears came right out of the gates and scored the first four points of the contest. Sophomore forward Parker Kelly (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Beekmantown) scored a layup off an assist from Segar followed by sophomore guard MeSean Johnson (Ogdensburg, N.Y./Ogdensburg Free Academy) grabbing an offensive rebound and taking a short jumper in the paint. For the next 10 minutes of the first half, a total of six lead changes occurred. Neither team managed to gain any significant advantage over the other. At 10:42 remaining, the Bears turned up the defensive pressure and went on an 8-2 run before the Mustangs wanted to talk it over. Junior guard Isaac Oduro Jr. (Jamaica, N.Y./Christ the King) scored two jumpers during the run while Kelly and Sillah bullied their way into the paint for two points each. Potsdam led 25-20 with 7:29 left in the opening half. Despite the adversity, the Mustangs refused to roll over. Morrisville made two three-pointers within a minute's span to trim the Potsdam lead to three at 3:48. Junior guard Colton Huestis (Ticonderoga, N.Y./Ticonderoga) quickly answered the run with a trifecta of his own, extending the Potsdam lead 37-31. About 20 seconds later, the Mustangs got fouled on a three-point attempt and were rewarded three free throws. Morrisville drained all three, cutting the Potsdam lead back within three. The Bears locked down on defense for the remainder of the half, taking a 44-39 lead into the break.
 
The Mustangs came out of the break on a 7-2 run to tie the game at 46. From that point, Morrisville kept their foot on the pedal and went on another 10-0 to put the Mustangs up 56-46 with 15:45 remaining. The Bears then answered with a 10-0 run of their own which was led by Sillah who scored six points in that stretch. Both teams were tied again at 13:43. After a brief period of trading baskets, the Mustangs went on a 19-4 scoring surge to put them up 82-70 with 5:42 left in the half. The run was too much to overcome as the Bears succumbed to the Mustangs.
 
Huestis ended the game with 11 points while Kelly registered 10 points and five rebounds.
 
The Bears are scheduled to travel to SUNY Poly on Tuesday, Nov. 15, for a 6 p.m. tip-off.