PLATTSBURGH, N.Y.—Sophomore guard Nicholas Cortez (Harlem, N.Y./La Salle Academy) scored at the buzzer to lift the SUNY Potsdam men's basketball team (3-14, 3-8) to a 77-75 victory at Plattsburgh State (9-8, 6-4) on Tuesday evening.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Bears opened the contest on a 10-4 run over the first 3:27, with five of the points coming from Cortez.
• The Cardinals fought their way back to tie the game at 28-28 and finished the half on a 17-12 stretch. They led 45-40 at the break.
• Potsdam started the second half with an 8-0 run. The Bears got back-to-back 3-pointers from sophomore guard Mohammad Sylla (Bronx, N.Y./Darrow) and senior forward Parker Kelly (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Beekmantown) and a layup from junior guard Khalil Screen (Providence, R.I./Classical) to grab an 48-45 lead at 16:58.
• After the Cardinals rallied for a brief lead, Potsdam used a 12-0 run for a 62-51 edge with 11:40 left. Freshman guard Mike Hancock (Bayville, N.Y./Locust Valley) capped the burst with five straight points.
• Plattsburgh battled back took a 75-74 lead on a layup from Ikechukwu Ezike with just four seconds left.
• Cortez then drained a three at the buzzer to give the Bears the 77-75 victory.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Cortez finished with a career and game-high 27 points to go with two steals.
• Kelly scored 20 points and Screen scored 12 and grabbed seven boards.
• Sylla just missed a double-double with seven points, nine rebounds and 10 assists.
• Kareem Welch led Plattsburgh with 14 points.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Bears host Morrisville State at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night.