NEW PALTZ, N.Y.--The SUNY Potsdam men's basketball team (3-22, 2-16 SUNYAC) finished up its season in spectacular fashion by defeating the SUNY New Paltz Hawks (1-23, 0-18) 84-82 in overtime. Sophomore guard Nosa Onabor (Brooklyn, N.Y./Northside Charter) led the way for the Bears, dropping 28 points. He hit seven 3-pointers on the day. Onabor also contributed six rebounds and three assists. Freshman guard Danny Delsol-Lowry (Queens, N.Y./Queens High School of Teaching) contributed a double-double to the Bears effort with a career high 20 points and 10 rebounds.
The Bears opened the first half strong, going on an early 8-3 run fueled by 3-pointers from Onabor and sophomore guard Dante Langley (Schuylerville, N.Y./Schuylerville). The Hawks then answered with a 14-0 run which was ended by a pair of 3-pointers from freshman guard Jayquan Thomas (Hollis, N.Y./Richmond Hill) and Delsol-Lowry. Midway through the first half the Bears went on a 16-9 stretch to cut the deficit down to two points. After a pair of buckets from Langley and freshman center Kristoff Saunders (Queens, N.Y./Queens High School of Teaching) the Bears entered the half trailing by a score of 32-30.
The Bears stayed hot from beyond the arc in the second half with four 3-pointers in the first five minutes supplied by Delsol-Lowry and Onabor, who had two apiece. The Hawks countered again with a 12-3 run to go back up by six points. This lead was short lived as the Bears went on a 13-3 run sparked by another Onabor three. He had eight of the 13 points, which gave the Bears a seven-point lead late in the half. The Hawks fought back eventually, hitting one of two free throws with one second remaining to send the game into overtime with the score tied at 73 apiece.
The Hawks scored the first six points in the extra session to take a 79-73 lead, but the Bears hung on. After a pair of Langley free throws, Onabor hit a three to bring the Bears within 79-78 with a minute remaining. After the Hawks took an 82-79 lead with just 31 seconds remaining, Delsol-Lowry hit a jumper to bring the Bears within one. After a steal, Thomas was fouled and went to the line with a chance to give the Bears the lead late in overtime. After hitting the first free throw to tie the game, he missed the second. Langley grabbed the offensive rebound and laid it in to give the Bears the win.
Langley finished with 15 points and six rebounds and Thomas had 12 points and eight boards. Andrew Seniuk led the Hawks with 21 points. Dylan Balducci had 15 points, while Cory Garcia recorded a double-double with 14 points and an eye-popping 16 assists. Nick Arthur also had double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds and Tristan Wissenmann scored 14 points.
The 2016-17 Bears have no seniors and will return everyone next season.