POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men's basketball team (10-9, 8-6 SUNYAC) shook off a challenge from Plattsburgh State (2-19, 1-13) in the second half to halt a three-game skid with an 80-67 victory on Tuesday night. Junior center
Tyrese Baptiste (Brooklyn, N.Y./Eagle Academy II) returned to the lineup with a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds. Freshman guard
Jeff Williamson (Brooklyn, N.Y./Christ the King) scored a career-high 15 points and freshman forward
Parker Kelly (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Beekmantown) and sophomore forward
Ahamadou Sillah (Bronx, N.Y./Kipp NYC College Prep) each had 12 points.
Potsdam outscored the Cardinals 12-6 over the first 4:40 of the contest, thanks in part to five points from Kelly and four from Williamson, but the Cardinals hung around. A 12-4 run from Plattsburgh, including a three from freshman guard Franklin Infante (East Rockaway, N.Y./East Rockaway), gave the Cardinals an 18-14 edge at 12:22. A layup from freshman guard
MeSean Johnson (Ogdensburg, N.Y./Ogdensburg Free Academy) three minutes later put Potsdam back up for good at 24-23. Sillah scored to increase the lead to 33-26 at 3:59 for the Bears biggest advantage of the half. After a three from Cardinals freshman guard Kevin Tabb (Bronx, N.Y./Thomas Jefferson) made it a one-point game, Potsdam scored the final five points of the half and led 38-32 at the break.
Plattsburgh managed to stay within striking distance over the first 9:43 of the second half, trailing just 53-48, but a three from sophomore guard
Brian Pod (Oceanside, N.Y./Oceanside), an a layup from Baptiste extended the lead to 58-48. After Baptiste made it a 13-point contest with 7:53 to play, the Cardinals whittled the deficit back to 66-60 three minutes later. Another layup from Baptiste started a 12-0 Potsdam run, which included three Williamson free throws after a technical foul on the Cardinals bench, and the Bears took a commanding 78-60 lead at 2:04 to slam the door.
Tabb led all scorers with 26 points for Plattsburgh. Junior forward Erik Salo (Delmar, N.Y./Bethlehem Central) scored 14 and grabbed 13 boards. Infante finished with 11 points and senior forward Kyle Cary (Selkirk, N.Y./Revena-Coeymans-Selkirk) chipped in nine.
Potsdam outrebounded Plattsburgh 37-29.
The Bears are back in action on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. when they host the College at Brockport in another critical SUNYAC contest.
