Box Score Box Score

POTSDAM, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz men's basketball team (3-3, 0-2 SUNYAC) lost its third game of the season Saturday afternoon, as the Hawks fell to SUNY Potsdam (2-3, 1-1 SUNYAC), 77-73, in the second State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) contest of the season for both teams at Welsh Gymnasium.

Potsdam's contributions came mainly from a trio of players, as Curtis Pierce scored 17 points, Anthony Williams scored 14 and Rob Duquette added 10. Junior guard Harris Wichard (Merrick, N.Y.) led the Hawks with 17 points and six rebounds, while junior guard Shereef Taylor (Hyde Park, N.Y.) scored 10, shooting an efficient 4-for-7 from the field.

Both teams kept it close in the first half, as the score was 29-28 Potsdam with 4:44 remaining. Following sophomore guard Lorenzo Brown's (Brooklyn, N.Y.) layup with 4:44 left, the Bears proceeded to go on a 10-0 run to close out the half leading 39-28.

Potsdam came out sharp in the second half, going on a 12-4 run and extending its advantage to 51-32 with 14:30 remaining. New Paltz would battle back, going on a 23-9 run and cutting the lead down to five points at 60-55 with 8:02 left after a Wichard layup. The Bears would then go on a 9-4 spurt and increase their lead to 69-59.

New Paltz battled back, and with 55 seconds remaining, the blue and orange cut the score to 69-66. The Hawks received contributions from sophomore guard/forward Matt Devine (Manalapan, N.J.), sophomore guard Nick Taldi (Merrick, N.Y.), Taylor and junior guard Jermain Wallace (Spring Valley, N.Y.) while closing in on Potsdam. After Taldi's free throw trimmed the Hawk deficit to three, the Bears increased their lead to six at 76-70 with 11 seconds remaining. Wichard would hit a three-pointer to bring the blue and orange back within three.

The Hawks intentionally fouled Anthony Williams and hoped for missed free throws. Williams would split a pair, giving Potsdam a four-point edge and making it a two-possession game with two seconds left, sealing a victory for the host Bears.

Despite their third loss in a row, the Hawks did have bright spots. Wichard continues to rebound the basketball effectively for a guard, grabbing six rebounds this game, while freshman guard Lamard Herron (Westbury, N.Y.) contributed eight points off the bench. New Paltz hopes that junior forward/center Daniel Olsen (Stafford Springs, Conn.), a 7-footer, can provide size down low once he heals from injury.

The Hawks look to rebound against Vassar College in another road game on Tuesday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m. in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.