BUFFALO, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men's basketball team (6-8, 4-4 SUNYAC) overcame a 16-point first half deficit to defeat Buffalo State (1-14, 0-8) 79-71 on Saturday afternoon. Junior forward Ahamadou Sillah (Bronx, N.Y./Kipp NYC College Prep) led the Bears with 20 points and six rebounds. Senior forward Brandon Segar Jr. (Jamaica, N.Y./Richmond Hill) posted another double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Junior guards Isaac Oduro Jr. (Jamaica, N.Y./Christ the King) and Colton Huestis (Ticonderoga, N.Y./Ticonderoga) scored 12 points each and sophomore guard Jeff Williamson (Brooklyn, N.Y./Christ the King) contributed 11.
 
After trailing early, the Bears rallied and a jumper from sophomore forward Parker Kelly (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Beekmantown) at 14:33 tied the game at 13-13. The Bengals countered with a 15-2 run to grab a 28-15 edge at 8:54. Huestis stopped the run with a three seconds later, but Buffalo State continued to extend its lead over the first half. Matt Parkinson scored for the Bengals at 3:44 giving them their biggest lead of the game at 40-24. Potsdam narrowed the deficit to 12 a few times as the half came to a close, but a DaRon Hughey three at the buzzer made it a 48-33 contest at the break.
 
Potsdam fought its way back into the game in the second half. A 24-9 surge, capped by a three from Williamson, tied the game at 57-57 with 11:41 to play. Sillah scored eight of the points during the charge and Segar and Oduro had five points apiece. Huestis connected from long range to give the Bears their first lead of the game, 63-61, with 9:01 left. At the 5:19 mark, senior guard Reginald Smith Jr. (Chicago, Ill./Argo Community) scored on a layup to put Potsdam up 67-65 and the Bears never trailed again. Williamson drained a three with 3:49 to go for a 70-65 advantage. Huestis converted a three-point play at 3:21 to make it 73-67 and then Potsdam finished Buffalo State at the free-throw line.
 
Parker had eight points on the day as the Bears outshot the Bengals 47.5-percent to 42.4. Potsdam outrebounded Buffalo State 41-31.
 
The Bears are home to host SUNY Geneseo on Friday at 7:30 p.m.