POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men's basketball team (3-4, 1-0 SUNYAC) defeated Plattsburgh State (3-3, 0-1) 74-63 on Tuesday night in the SUNYAC opener at Jerry Welsh Gymnasium. Senior forward Brandon Segar Jr. (Jamaica, N.Y./Richmond Hill) matched a career-high with 24 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to lead the Bears.
 
Potsdam used an 16-5 run to break a 4-4 tie and take control of the first half and led 20-9 at 9:57. Segar had six points during the stretch. Junior forward Ahamadou Sillah (Bronx, N.Y./Kipp NYC College Prep) had four points and sophomore guard Jeff Williamson (Brooklyn, N.Y./Christ the King) and junior guard Colton Huestis (Ticonderoga, N.Y./Ticonderoga) each hit threes. Segar scored on a layup at 7:33 to give the Bears a 27-13 advantage. The Cardinals closed to within nine several times as the half wound down, but got no closer and trailed 41-29 at the break.
 
The Bears extended their lead early in the first half. An 8-3 start to the final period, capped by a Segar layup, gave Potsdam its biggest lead of the game at 49-32. However, the Cardinals slowly battled back into the contest. At 14:39, senior guard Myles Jones (Alexandria, Va./Blue Ridge School) hit a three to trim the lead to single digits at 51-42. Sophomore guard Jaylin Pitts (Palatka, Fla./Peniel Baptist Academy) scored at 12:43 and the Cardinals were within 55-47. The Bears started to roll again after the bucket and went on a 14-4 run to regain a solid 63-51 advantage. Plattsburgh charged one last time and a layup from sophomore forward Layden Graves (Pelham, N.Y./Pelham Memorial) punctuated a 10-3 run and the Cardinals were down just 66-61 with 5:40 to play. Potsdam's defense ended the threat over remainder of the contest and the Bears slowly extended their lead back to double digits with clutch shooting from the floor and the free-throw line. They outscored Plattsburgh 8-2 the rest of the way to seal the win.
 
Huestis finished with 12 points and Sillah had 11. Sophomore guard MeSean Johnson (Ogdensburg, N.Y./Ogdensburg Free Academy) scored nine points and added a personal-best nine assists.
 
Sophomore guard Kevin Tabb (Brooklyn, N.Y./Thomas Jefferson) paced Plattsburgh with 18 points and senior guard Sheriff Conteh (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Hayes) chipped in 13. Junior guard Willard Anderson Jr. (Buffalo, N.Y./East) had 10 points.
 
Potsdam outshot Plattsburgh 46-percent to 40 from the floor but the Cardinals edged the Bears on the glass 40-39.
 
Potsdam is back in action on Friday night when the Bears head to SUNY New Paltz for a 7:30 p.m. contest.