POTSDAM, N.Y.—Clarkson University (4-3) and the SUNY Potsdam men's basketball team (0-5) traded leads all night, but the Golden Knights held on for a 66-63 win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The first half was tightly contested. Sophomore guard Mohammad Sylla (Bronx, N.Y./Darrow) hit a jumper at 10:23 to give the Bears their biggest of the half, 20-15, at 10:23.
- A hook shot by senior forward Parker Kelly (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Beekman) made it 26-22 at 5:21. The Knights rallied, but Potsdam led 33-32 at the break.
- The Bears started the second half on a 12-4 run, capped by a Sylla three for a 45-36 lead at 15:27.
- The Golden Knights charged back to grab a 52-50 advantage with a 16-5 run over the next eight minutes.
- Clarkson led by four late, but the Bears got back within 64-63 on a layup from Sylla with 28 seconds to go. However, the Golden Knights closed out the 66-63 victory from the free-throw line.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Potsdam shot 42.3-percent from the floor, while holding the Golden Knights to 40.3.
- Clarkson controlled the glass by a 46-31 count.
- Sylla led the Bears with 21 points and three steals.
- Sophomore guard Nicholas Cortez (Harlem, N.Y./La Salle Academy) scored 12 points and grabbed six rebounds.
- Kelly finished with 10 points and senior guard Walter deFreitas (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian) had nine points and five boards.
- Steve DeRegis led Clarkson with 17 points.
- Cork Finn (15 pts., 12 reb.) and Braeden Burns (14 pts., 12 reb.) each had double-doubles for the Golden Knights.
The Bears are back in action on Friday, December 6, when they travel to SUNY Cortland to open SUNYAC play at 7:30 p.m.
