POTSDAM, N.Y.—St. Lawrence University (1-0) pulled away from the SUNY Potsdam men's basketball team (0-1) for an 87-53 victory in Wednesday's season opener. Junior forward Shaheed Alcide (Queens, N.Y./Cambria Heights Academy) led the Bears with 13 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore forward Adam Dudzinski (Syracuse, N.Y./West Genesee) and junior forward Gavin Macaulay (Lowville, N.Y./Lowville) each scored 19 points for the Saints.
 
The Bears started quickly on a dunk from Alcide. After a Dudzinski three, junior forward Parker Kelly (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Beekmantown) answered with five straight points and Potsdam led 7-3 at 17:19. Junior forward Kawar Singh (Queens, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) scored at 16:03 to give the Bears a 9-7 advantage. The Saints answered with an 8-0 run to lead 15-9 at 10:56. Senior guard Colton Huestis (Ticonderoga, N.Y./Ticonderoga) drained a three seconds later to ignite a 7-2 response. Kelly hit a jumper at 9:37 and closed the gap to 17-16 at 9:28. However, SLU seized control of the contest and closed the half on a 23-7 run and led 40-23 at the break. It was all Saints in the second half as well and they steadily extended their advantage.
 
Kelly finished with seven points and three boards and Singh and freshman guard Erik Wall (Syracuse, N.Y./Bishop Grimes) each scored six for the Bears.
 
Freshman guard Troy McPherson (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton) reached double-digits with 13 points and five rebounds. Senior guard Trey Syroka (Toledo, Ohio/Whitmer) scored 10 points and grabbed two boards.
 
The Bears are back in action on Friday at 7 p.m. when they head to Utica University to take on the Pioneers.