A Quick Look
In a game that was just about equal, the SUNY Oneonta men's basketball team came up short to Potsdam tonight in the SUNYAC tournament semifinals 75-72.  The Red Dragons' season ends finishing with an overall record of 19-8 its best season in a decade.
 
"It's the end of an era," said Head Coach Cameron Conover.  "Tonight, was the last game for our four seniors, Kevin, Harrison, Ian and Carson.  I am going to miss them.  This team is going to miss them.  They have left their mark on this program as the winningest senior class since 1979 and they have helped elevate our program.  While this loss stings, they will be able to look back in a couple of weeks and recognize what they have accomplished.  They raised our standard and the future for Oneonta basketball is bright because of them."
 
The Inside Story
Oneonta trailed 74-67 with 24 seconds left in the game after a pair of free throws by Danny Delsol-Lowry.
 
Junior Andres Rivera (Bronx, NY/Walton) then threw down a dunk five seconds later and Oneonta called a timeout.  Potsdam turned the ball over, and sophomore Dylan Trombley (Moriah, NY/Moriah) collected the steal and got the ball to senior Kevin Mackin (Nanuet, NY/Nanuet) who buried a trey to cut the deficit to two points with nine seconds to go.
 
After another timeout, Mackin fouled Aaron Armstrong who made 1-of-2 free throws to give Potsdam a 75-72 lead with six ticks on the clock.  The Bears waited to foul senior Harrison Deegan (Putnam Valley, NY/Putnam Valley) who couldn't convert the front end of a 1-and-1 and the rebound went to Potsdam and time expired.
 
Potsdam (20-5) led early grabbing a 14-7 advantage in the opening seven minutes of the game.  A three-pointer by Mackin capped eight unanswered points for Oneonta giving them its first lead of the game midway through the first half.  The score was tied five times during the final 10 minutes of the half including at the end when Deegan made a layup to knot the score at 36 apiece entering halftime.
 
Four players scored in double figures for Oneonta led by Rivera who scored 16 points while pulling down 10 boards.  Mackin posted 15 points, Deegan 14 points and Trombley 12 points.
 
Four players scored in double figures for Potsdam led by Jaquan Thomas' 27 points.  Delsol-Lowry and Isaiah Brown each scored 17 points and Tyrese Baptiste scored 13 points to go with 14 rebounds.
 
Just the Stats
Rebounds for the contest were even at 39 apiece as were the blocks at five per team.  Oneonta made nine three-pointers to only five for the Bears.  The Bears made 12-of-18 free throws while the Red Dragons made 5-of-9 from the line.