POTSDAM, N.Y. – The SUNY Potsdam men’s basketball team fell victim to a sharp-shooting Ithaca College team and lost its non-league game, 91-78, at Jerry Welsh Gymnasium. Senior Scott Mitchell (Brushton/North Country CC) led the Bears with 21 points and five assists.
Sophomore Brandon Siskavich (Peru/Peru) contributed 16 points and seven rebounds for Potsdam (3-6, 1-1 SUNYAC). Freshman Anthony Williams Jr. (Brentwood/Upper Room Christian) and junior Devin Taft (Hoosick Falls/Hoosick Falls) scored 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Potsdam started strong – going on a 5-point run to open the game – and owned a 23-15 lead midway through the first half. Then, Ithaca (4-3) went on a 17-0 run, led by sophomore Sean Burton (Yorkville/Notre Dame), to take a 32-23 lead. Burton scored nine points during the streak.
The Bears never regained the lead after Burton drained a 3-pointer to trigger Ithaca’s outburst. With 14:10 left in the game, Williams trimmed Ithaca’s lead to two (52-50), but the Bombers continued to make shots – finishing 58.1 percent from the field.
Burton finished with 23 points and four assists for the Bombers. Sophomore Jeff Bostic (Geneva/Geneva) added 19 points and seven rebounds while senior Sean Stahn (Scarsdale/Ardsley) scored 15 points and dished five assists. Also, freshman Tom Brown (Bayport/Bayport-Blue Point) had 10 points and eight rebounds.
The Bears will resume their schedule at the Trinity College Tournament on Friday, January 5, 2007, at 8 p.m. Potsdam’s first-round opponent will be WestfieldState. It will play in either the consolation game or championship game on January 6.