NEW PALTZ, N.Y.—SUNY New Paltz (7-9, 5-4 SUNYAC) withstood a late rally by the SUNY Potsdam men's basketball team (1-14, 1-7) for an 89-79 win on Friday night.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Bears opened the contest on a 9-2 run over the first four minutes. Sophomore guard Mike Hancock (Bayville, N.Y./Locust Valley) scored the first six points and senior guard Jaylen Singh (Murfreesboro, Tenn./Rockvale) capped the run with a 3-pointer.
•  New Paltz answered with a 16-5 run to grab a 18-14 lead at 9:38.
• Potsdam regained the lead, 24-22, thanks in part to threes from freshman guard Bobby Kemokai (New Brunswick, N.J./Plattsburgh) and freshman forward Landon Cox (Dickinson Center, N.Y./Brushton-Moira).
• Again the Hawks answered and closed the half on a 19-3 burst to take a 41-27 advantage into the locker room.
• The Bears kept pace with New Paltz but struggled to make up ground.
• Potsdam finally got going at the 10:41 mark. Sophomore guard Timothy Hardy (Portsmouth, Va./Ocean Lakes) hit a jumper to spark a 14-4 run.
• Kemokai hit another three with 5:08 left to get the Bears within 69-65.
• The Hawks outscored Potsdam 20-14 the rest of the way to extinguish the rally and close out the 89-79 victory.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• The Hawks shot 51.7-percent from the floor to the Bears' 41.9-percent.
• New Paltz outrebounded Potsdam 35-30.
• Hancock led the Bears with 18 points and eight rebounds.
• Singh finished with 13 points and Kemokai had 11.
• Sophomore guard Bryson Brown (New York, N.Y./Mercersburg Academy) scored 10 points and Hardy chipped in nine.
• Trevor Almalfitano led all scorers with 29 points for the Hawks. LaMar Matthews scored 17 points.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Bears head to SUNY Oneonta tomorrow for a 4 p.m. contest with the Red Dragons.