POTSDAM, N.Y. – The SUNY Potsdam men’s basketball team went on a 20-0 run, held Oneonta without a point for nearly 11 minutes and erased a 17-point deficit to hand the visiting Red Dragons, 62-56, their first SUNYAC loss. Senior Tim Reinhardt (Hilton/Hilton) scored 16 points, including nine during the 20-point second-half outburst.
Sophomore Brandon Siskavich (Peru/Peru) contributed 14 points for the Bears (6-8, 3-2). Fellow sophomore Alvin Dike (Bronx/Monsignor Scanlan) added seven rebounds and senior Jehrod Hall (Syracuse/North Country CC) made four assists.
Potsdam was down 45-28 before it stunned the Red Dragons with a 29-4 run, which included the 20 consecutive points. With 7:38 left, Reinhardt made a layup to break a 49-49 tie and the Bears led the rest of the game.
While they scored only one more point than they did in Friday’s loss to New Paltz, the Bears looked much better on offense. They committed only 13 turnovers, compared to 25 on Friday. On the other side of the ball, tenacious defense allowed Potsdam back into the game.
The 17-point comeback is Potsdam’s second-largest of the season. It climbed back from an 18-point deficit to defeat Brockport, 98-95, on Dec. 2.
Senior William Heslin (Schaghticoke/Hoosic Valley) led the Red Dragons (5-8, 4-1) with 15 points while classmate Eric Bratt (Roslyn/Roslyn) put in 14. Junior Bobby Fish (Coeymans/Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons) added 11 points, senior Kevin Reed (Downsville/Downsville) made 11 rebounds and eight assists and senior Michael Reardon (Staten Island/Monsignor Farrell) dished seven assists.
Potsdam will play twice next weekend in Western New York. It will play at BuffaloState on Friday at 8 p.m. and then at Fredonia on Saturday at 4.
SUNY Potsdam 62, SUNY Oneonta 56