POTSDAM USES LATE SURGE TO

SNEAK PAST SAINTS, 92-86

Dec. 4: The St. Lawrence University men’s basketball team had six players score in double-digits on Tuesday night, but dropped their fourth consecutive game by the score of 92-86 to the Potsdam State Bears in the Saints’ 2007-08 home opener.

 

The Saints (1-4) were led offensively by sophomore Josh Sharlow with 15 points and three assists and four steals, while Damon Brown was the game’s leading scorer for the Bears (3-3) with 18 points. He also added two assists and a steal in 22 minutes of action.

 

In a back-and-forth game that saw the lead change 24 times, the home team gained an early 10-7 lead after a pair of free throws from junior Bela Vonnak. However, in what would become a theme for the game, the Bears quickly answered with a three pointer from Anthony Williams Jr. to even the score at 10-10 just over five minutes into the contest.

 

St. Lawrence and Potsdam continued to battle throughout the first half, with no team gaining a lead larger than six. The Scarlet and Brown would earn that six point cushion with 9:21 remaining in the first half, when senior Tyler Wright converted a three point play to build his team’s lead to 25-19.

 

However, Potsdam chipped away at the lead using a ten-point run capped off by a three-pointed by Brown and a free throw from Alvin Dike, making the score 29-25 in favor of Potsdam. The Saints quickly bounced back, though, and outscored the Bears 13-8 in the final 5:30 of the opening half, taking a 38-37 lead into the intermission.

 

The two teams exchanged blows to start the second half, as the visitors rattled off five straight points, while

St. Lawrence followed with a 9-3 run of their own to take a five point lead at 54-49, finished by a three pointed by sophomore Andy Hoercher. However, the Bears tied the game less than a minute later on a lay-up by Devin Taft, knotting the score at 54-54, the seventh tie of the evening.

 

Midway through the second half, neither team had gained a pivotal advantage, though St. Lawrence continued to nurse a five point cushion, 68-63, after junior Richard Williams made an easy lay-up after Sharlow pulled down an offensive rebound. Potsdam showed their resiliency, though, by tallying six straight points to gain a 69-68 lead of their own with 8:23 to play in regulation.

 

The Saints, who outscored the Bears 40-38 in the paint, continued to use their size inside when Williams made another lay-up for two of his ten points with 5:39 to play, giving his team a 79-76 edge. The home team then had a chance to add to its lead, but Brendan Graney stole the ball, went the length of the floor and earned two free throws to cut the lead to one at 79-78.

 

That defensive effort sparked the Bears, as they quickly built a three point lead at 84-81 thanks to a bucket by Williams Jr. at the 3:11 mark of the second half. Though St. Lawrence continued to score, they weren’t able to keep Brown off of the free throw line, as he was a perfect 8-for-8 in the second half from the stripe including six in the final two minutes.

 

Hoercher kept the game within striking distance after he nailed a three-pointer with 30 seconds remaining in the game with his team trailing Potsdam, 90-86. Brown’s final two points would put the game out of reach, though, converting each of his final two chances from the free throw line. St. Lawrence attempted two three point shots, but was unable to come up with a bucket, as Potsdam came away with the 92-86 victory in the Burkman Gymnasium.

 

Both teams were impressive from the floor, with St. Lawrence shooting 51% from the field with Potsdam close behind at 48%. Though the Saints used the three-point shot to their advantage, going 10-for-21 from behind the arc, it was points off of turnovers and free throws that would do in the home team. Potsdam scored 27 points off of 20 St. Lawrence turnovers, and finished 76% (25-of-33) from the free throw line, while the Saints finished 12-of-24 (50%).

 

St. Lawrence will look to snap their four-game losing streak next Friday, December 14th, when the Saints visit the Ithaca College Bombers. Tip-off is set for 7:00pm.