The 1978-79 SUNY Potsdam men's basketball team was one of the best in a program with an outstanding tradition. Under legendary Bears coach Jerry Welsh and Potsdam Hall of Fame assistant coach Stan Cohen, this team started an incredible run of reaching the NCAA Championship game five times in eight seasons.
Potsdam entered the 1978-79 season off its second straight SUNYAC Championship and the fourth ever NCAA Tournament appearance. Senior forward Fran Demyan and senior guard Jack Bissetta were selected as the team captains. Welsh thought of Bissetta as the best defender in the conference and Demyan as one of the league's smartest players. Sophomore Ed Jachim was coming off his freshman all-conference, all-state and ECAC Division III Freshman of the Year season. Sophomore center Derrick Rowland was expected to step into the "big man" role after the graduation of several key players. They knew they were talented, but their late season run took the nation by surprise.
The Bears opened the season on November 11, with a 109-55 dismantling of Queen's out of Kingston, Ontario. Rowland led the charge with 19 points, while Bissetta scored 16 and Jachim had 13. Potsdam held off Clarkson 72-63 on November 29, with another 18 from Bissetta. On December 1-2, the Bears hosted the Potsdam Invitational. Rowland and Jachim recorded 23 and 18 points, respectively as the hosts dispatched Brockport 85-72 in the first round. In the championship, Demyan hit an eight-foot jumper with three seconds left to down St. Lawrence 61-60.
After bowing to Le Moyne 77-74 in overtime on December 6 and dropping a SUNYAC contest at Oneonta 75-53 three days later, the Bears stood at 4-2.
On December 14, Potsdam defeated Utica 102-90 in Maxcy Hall to ignite a 15 game-winning streak. The run included winning the Brooklyn College Tournament and conference victories over Binghamton, Geneseo, Brockport, Cortland, Oswego, Fredonia and Plattsburgh. Potsdam was now 19-2 and 8-1 in conference play.
A 72-69 setback at Albany on February 16 started a 1-4 stretch to end the season, However, the one victory, 80-62 at home against Plattsburgh, delivered Potsdam's third straight conference title. The SUNYAC Championship earned the Bears a bid to the NCAA tournament for the second year in a row.
The Bears opened tournament play at Stony Brook on March 2 in the East Regional. Potsdam never led against the Patriots until a Demyan basket with 4:45 left put the Bears up 62-60. Demyan did it again just over two minutes later and tough defense combined with three free throws from Bissetta and two from Rowland gave the Bears a 70-65 win. Rowland finished with 18 points, Bissetta added 16 and Jachim scored 12.
In the Regional final, Potsdam faced a familiar foe in SLU. Again, the Bears had to dig out of an early hole and used physical play and strong free-throw shooting to pull out the 70-61 victory. Jachim had 21 points and Rowland contributed 18.
As regional champions, the Bears advanced to the quarterfinals where they hosted Clark University on March 10, in front of 3000 rabid fans. The contest was tight until later in the second half. Three early fouls forced Rowland to the bench, but the Bears managed a 39-34 halftime lead. The Cougars opened the second half on a 10-2 run and grabbed a 44-41 advantage. Potsdam answered with a 10-2 burst of its own and never trailed again en route to an 89-72 win. Despite limited minutes, Rowland led the Bears with 21 points and eight boards and Demyan scored 20 and added five rebounds. Jachim and junior forward Terry Hunter each had 17 and Hunter was seven-for-seven from the free-throw line in the final eight minutes.
The Bears then headed for Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill. to face Centre College in the semifinals on March 16. Rowland was unstoppable, scoring 33 points in Potsdam's 67-63 win. Jachim and Hunter each had 10 points. The Bears rallied from an 18-10 deficit early for a 37-28 lead at the half. Potsdam was a perfect 15-for-15 from the line and shot 52-percent from the floor to advance to the finals.
The next day, the Bears faced defending champ North Park in the title matchup. The Vikings built a 36-28 halftime lead. A 7-0 run to start the final 20 minutes gave North Park its biggest advantage of the contest, 43-28, with 15:45 on the clock. Potsdam refused to go away. Tough defense forced Viking turnovers and the Bears chipped away. A Bissetta jumper at 8:44 made it a 52-49 contest. With 17 seconds on the clock, Jachim hit an 18-footer to get Potsdam within 62-60. Hunter then stole the ensuing inbounds pass four seconds later. A Jachim chance to tie the contest hit the rim and a final shot from Bissetta from 25 feet out hit the backboard. Two free throws with a second remaining sealed North Park's 66-62 victory. Rowland had 18 points, while Bissetta and Jachim contributed 13 and 12.
Potsdam completed its season 24-7 and 9-2 in the SUNYAC. Jachim was named first team all-conference and the SUNYAC's Most Outstanding Player. Rowland was also first team.
The team featured six future Bears Hall of Famers in Welsh (1992), Cohen (2006), Bissetta (2009), Demyan (1990), Jachim (1992) and Rowland (1992) and two future All-Americans (Jachim - 1979-80, 1980-81 and Rowland - 1979-80, 1980-81). Jachim, Pat Melbourne '81, Scott Franko '81 and Rowland all were members of the Bears first National Championship team two years later.
The 1978-79 men's basketball team will become one of just seven Bears teams to be inducted into the hall of fame tomorrow morning.
