ONEONTA, N.Y. – The SUNY Potsdam men's basketball team (3-6, 1-2 SUNYAC) bowed to SUNY Oneonta (6-1, 2-1 SUNYAC) 81-52 on Saturday evening. Sophomore forward Parker Kelly (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Beekmantown) paced the Bears with 17 points and junior forward Ahamadou Sillah (Bronx, N.Y./Kipp NYC College Prep) totaled 11 points.
 
Oneonta got off to a hot start scoring six points in the first two minutes of the opening half. Potsdam quickly countered their run when senior forward Brandon Segar Jr. (Jamaica, N.Y./Richmond Hill) and Sillah made close shots to keep the Red Dragons at bay. However, Oneonta seemed unfazed as they continued to score at will against the Bears. At 11:50, Potsdam sensed a momentum shift when Sillah picked the ball loose from the Red Dragons and slammed one home at the other end. Thirty seconds after the play, Segar passed the ball to sophomore guard MeSean Johnson (Ogdensburg, N.Y./Ogdensburg Free Academy) who sprinted down the hardwood for an easy two. Potsdam took their first lead of the game 20-18. Despite the Bears possessing a five-point lead with 9:16 remaining, they were unable to hold onto it as the Red Dragons took the 39-33 advantage into halftime.
 
Oneonta never looked back once the second half commenced. The Red Dragons scored the first two baskets of the half which resulted in a ten-point Oneonta lead at 17:59. Unable to score for the next two minutes, Segar was able to pull Potsdam out of their scoring drought by nailing two free throws with 15:41 remaining. A potent Red Dragons offense continued to give the Bears trouble as Oneonta routed a 14-0 run to put them up by 25 with 8:25 left to go. The Red Dragons' tenacity on the offensive glass became too much for the Bears to overcome as Oneonta proceeded to widen the score and close out the 81-52 win.  
 
Segar registered 10 points with seven rebounds while Johnson posted six points for the Bears.
 
Michael Ortale finished the contest with 18 points and Graham Wooden with 14 points. Both Daniel Derice and Joseph Bull ended the game with double doubles. Derice had 17 points and 12 rebounds while Bull had 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Red Dragons.
 
The Bears are back in action next Saturday, Dec. 10, when they host #12 Oswego State at 4 p.m.