POTSDAM, N.Y.—SUNY Cortland (7-1, 5-0 SUNYAC) defeated the SUNY Potsdam men's basketball team (3-8, 1-4) 88-68 on Sunday. Senior forward Brandon Segar Jr. (Jamaica, N.Y./Richmond Hill) led the Bears with 17 points and seven rebounds. Junior guard Colton Huestis (Ticonderoga, N.Y./Ticonderoga) scored 16 points and junior forward Ahamadou Sillah (Bronx, N.Y./Kipp NYC College Prep) had 14 points and four assists.
 
The teams started the contest cold. However, Cortland heated up quickly and a 15-4 run put the Red Dragons up 21-9 at 8:43. Led by freshman guard Isaiah Austin (Albany, N.Y./Albany) and senior forward Austin Grunder (Trumansburg, N.Y./Charles O. Dickerson), who had 13 and 10 points in the first half, Cortland continued to pull away. An Austin layup with five seconds left made it a 41-25 contest at the half. The Red Dragons shot almost 58-percent from the floor in the first 20 minutes. Huestis and Sillah did most of the damage for Potsdam with eight and seven points, respectively.
 
Grunder hit a three with 12:55 remaining to open up a 57-32 Red Dragons advantage in the second half. Defense took a back seat over the next few minutes as the teams traded open threes. Unfortunately, despite matching Cortland from long range during the span, the Bears were unable to pick up much ground. Grunder scored 16 points in the second half, while Segar had 13 of his points and Sillah added another seven. Two free throws at 3:00 gave the Red Dragons their biggest lead of the game, 87-60. Potsdam narrowed the deficit slightly as time ran out.
 
Grunder finished with 26 points, 13 rebounds and six assists. Austin and junior Kareem Isaiah Lubin (Monroe, N.Y./Williamsville East) each finished with 13 points.
 
Cortland shot 49-percent from the floor overall and Potsdam hit 43-percent of its shots. The Red Dragons controlled the glass with a 48-30 advantage.
 
Potsdam is now off until January 7, when the Bears head to Plattsburgh to resume the season.