The SUNY Oneonta men's basketball team came all the way back to take a brief 66-65 lead midway through the second half only to see the game slip away in the final minutes falling to Potsdam 98-86 in the SUNYAC opener for both squads.  Oneonta (3-2, 0-1 SUNYAC) overcame an 11-point halftime deficit before Potsdam (3-3, 1-0 SUNYAC) reasserted itself late in the game.
 
Junior Kevin Mackin (Nanuet, NY/Nanuet) led the Red Dragons tonight with 22 points on 8-of-17 shooting from the field.  Classmate Harrison Deegan (Putnam Valley, NY/Putnam Valley) added 15 points on 7-for-10 shooting and sophomore Jacob Rodriguez (Bronx, NY/Mount St. Michael Academy) led the reserves with 12 points off the bench.
 
The Bears had four players in double figures led by Jaquan Thomas who poured in a game high 31 points on 9-of-11 shooting from the field and converting 13-of-16 free throws.
 
Both teams shot better than 50 percent from the floor in the game.  The only difference in the game was at the foul line where Potsdam outscored Oneonta 32-10.
 
A pair of free throws by Mackin finally cut Potsdam's lead to single digits four minutes into the second half.  After falling behind again by 14 points just a few minutes later, Oneonta seized the momentum putting together a 19-4 run capped by a Carson Jacobs' (Buchanan, NY/Hendrick Hudson) three-pointer giving them its next to last lead of the game.
 
The Bears broke a 68 all tie with five unanswered points.  Potsdam held onto its five-point lead as the clock fell under five minutes remaining.  Another five unanswered pushed their lead back to double digits at the 1:55 mark.
 
Oneonta held an early 7-6 lead after Mackin buried a three.  Potsdam assumed control with an 11-3 run to grab a 17-9 lead with under 15 minutes to go in the first half.  The Bears pushed its lead into double figures by midway through the half building it to 18 points at the 7:43 mark.  Potsdam took a 48-37 lead into the break.
 
Joining Thomas in double figures for Potsdam was Danny Delsol-Lowry (26 points), Nosa Onabor (18 points) and Serigne Kane (10 points).
 
Oneonta will be at Plattsburgh tomorrow afternoon beginning at 4pm.