Blue Devil men rally past Potsdam
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CONTACT: Jerry Reilly,
Sports Information Dept.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Men's basketball
BOXSCORE: FREDONIA STATE 58, POTSDAM 53
POTSDAM, N.Y. -- Fredonia State scored an important SUNYAC road win Saturday.
The Blue Devils improved to 6-7 in the conference -- 8-11 overall -- with a 58-53 victory over the Potsdam Bears. The win ended their losing streak at three games and moved the Blue Devils into a tie with Buffalo State for the next-to-last SUNYAC playoff berth.
The loss dropped the Bears to 2-11 in the SUNYAC, 3-16 overall.
Julius Bryant (Buffalo/Hutch Tech) saw 30 minutes of action and responded with 20 points. He was 6 of 8 from the field and 8 of 8 from the foul line. James Kane (Buffalo/Timon-St. Jude) added 12 points and a game-high eight rebounds.
Down by as many as eight points early in the first half, the Blue Devils put together a comeback which included a 16-0 run. They then managed to hold off the Bears down the stretch. The Bears jumped out to a 10-2 lead and eventually led 24-20 with 1:58 left in the first half. That's when Fredonia State began its comeback beginning with four straight successful free throws by Bryant to close out the first half in a 24-24 tie.
Scott Valenta (Binghamton) opened the scoring in the second half with a jumper, followed by a lay-up by Greg MacBride (Clifton Springs/Newark), two straight baskets by Kane, a basket by Bryant, and two free throws by Jonathan Herrera (Woodside/Flushing). The 10-0 start to the second half put Fredonia State in front 36-26, and the entire 16-0 run was keyed by the Blue Devils holding the Bears scoreless for over eight minutes.
The Bears managed to get within a point, 42-41, with 7:45 remaining, but never again took a lead or pulled even. They were led by Anthony Williams and Joshua Lambert with 15 points and 13 points, respectively.
The Blue Devils return to Steele Hall next Friday and Saturday with games vs. New Paltz and Oneonta, respectively.