CANTON, N.Y. – The SUNY Potsdam men's basketball team (1-3) fell to neighboring St. Lawrence University (2-0) 71-62 Friday evening. Junior forward Ahamadou Sillah (Bronx, N.Y./Kipp NYC College Prep) posted his first double-double of the season registering 15 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore forward Parker Kelly (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Beekmantown) was one rebound shy of a double-double with a season-high 18 points and nine rebounds.
 
Early into the opening half, the Bears struggled to find quality scoring opportunities against the Saints defense. At 17:21, junior guard Colton Huestis (Ticonderoga, N.Y./Ticonderoga) went to the line after being fouled on a three-point attempt. Huestis netted all three to put the Bears within one. After Potsdam tied up the game at 10, the Saints went on a 13-2 run in the following seven minutes to put SLU up 23-12 with 7:52 remaining. Two minutes later, junior center Chris Becker (Lake George, N.Y./Lake George) scored the next four points for the Bears to trim the Saints lead to 12. At 2:53 left in the first half, sophomore guard MeSean Johnson (Ogdensburg, N.Y./Ogdensburg Free Academy) lobbed the ball to Sillah for the throw-down slam. SLU took a 37-23 lead into the break.
 
Coming out of halftime, Potsdam went on a 6-0 run led by four free throws from Kelly. The Bears cut the Saints lead to within eight. Continuing to fight their way back into the game, sophomore guard Jeff Williamson (Brooklyn, N.Y./Christ the King) found Kelly open for his second three-pointer of the night to put the Bears within ten with 10:38 left. Starting at 9:22, Potsdam began a 13-7 run guided by Sillah who scored seven points over that stretch. With 1:21 remaining in the contest, the Bears began to put full-court pressure the Saints. Williamson picked off a pass and made an outlet to Johnson who was unsuccessful in making a close layup. However, Kelly managed to grab the offensive board resulting in two free throws. Kelly hit both to close the gap within eight. Using the clock to their advantage the Saints played keep-away, forcing the Bears to foul and send them to the line. With three seconds to go, Sillah attempted one last three to no avail as the Saints sealed the victory on their home court.
 
Williamson and Becker both ended the game with eight points each. Junior guard Isaac Oduro Jr. (Jamaica, N.Y./Christ the King) finished with six points for the Bears.
 
Trey Syroka, Trent Adamson, and Will Engelhardt led the Saints in scoring with 11 points apiece. Carter Storey and Aiden Macaulay had 12 and 10 points, respectively.
 
The Bears are scheduled to play cross-town foe Clarkson University tomorrow at 2 p.m.