POTSDAM, N.Y.—SUNY New Paltz (13-12, 11-7 SUNYAC) was able to escape Jerry Welsh Gymnasium with a 94-90 victory over the SUNY Potsdam men's basketball (1-24, 1-17) in the Bears' regular season finale. Prior to the contest, Potsdam honored senior guard Jalen Singh (Murfreesboro, Tenn./Rockvale) on Senior Day. Singh led the Bears with 21 points and nine rebounds.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Potsdam opened the contest on a 9-3 run, with seven points coming from Singh.
- The Hawks answered with a 21-5 run to grab a 31-20 advantage at 9:36.
- A 12-0 burst from the Bears gave them a 32-31 edge two minutes later. Sophomore guard Mike Hancock (Bayville, N.Y./Locust Valley) ignited the run with back-to-back threes.
- Two free throws from junior captain Ethan Baksh (Queens, N.Y./Richmond Hill) got Potsdam within 44-40 with 46 seconds left. The Bears trailed 47-40 at the half.
- The Bears played catch up for much of the final 20 minutes, but Hawks couldn't shake them.
- An 11-2 Hawks stretch gave them a 62-49 lead at 15:08, but Potsdam closed to within 66-61 thanks in part to two 3-pointers from freshman guard Bobby Kemokai (New Brunswick, N.J./Plattsburgh).
- New Paltz inflated its lead back to 70-61 but a 7-2 run, including five points from sophomore guard Timothy Hardy (Portsmouth, Va./Ocean Lakes), cut the gap to 72-69.
- The Bears would get no closer though another Kemokai three and a jumper from freshman guard Connor Bastedo (Marietta, N.Y./Tully) made it a 94-90 final.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- The Hawks shot 46.9-percent from the floor to the Bears' 42.3.
- The rebounds were dead even at 44 apiece.
- Hardy finished with 19 points and six rebounds.
- Kemokai scored 14 points and grabbed four boards.
- Baksh contributed 12 points and sophomore guard Bryson Brown (New York, N.Y./Mercersburg Academy) had 10.
- Senior wing LaMar Matthews (Buffalo, N.Y./St. John Fisher) led all scorers with 25 points and seven rebounds for the Hawks.
