By Pete Holehan

Assistant SID-SUNY Potsdam

Potsdam started strong by shooting 51 percent from the floor in the first half and led 33-29 at the break, but a strong second half surge pushed Plattsburgh past Potsdam for a 76-61 win at Jerry Welsh Gymnasium on Tuesday night. 
 
The Bears held onto that lead until 13:16 left in the game on a Rishawd Hendricks free throw that put Potsdam up 38-37. 
 
That would be the last time Potsdam would have the lead as Plattsburgh's Ezra Hodgson knocked down a 3-pointer to begin a 16-3 run at about the midway point of the second half.   
 
Free throws by Edward Correa and John Perez followed by a lay up, two 3-pointers and a jumper from Hodgson pushed the Cardinals' lead to 12 with 8:55 left. 
 
Hodgson finished with a game-high 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting (4-of-5 from 3-point range).  Shavar Fields and Correa added 11 points apiece while Perez had seven points and 12 rebounds. 
 
Junior Zac Adams (Potsdam, N.Y.  / Potsdam) took on more of a shooting load with Rob Duquette missing the game with an injury and led the Bears with 13 points.
 
Brandon Williams (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Boys & Girls) had 12 points and junior Tom Graf (Elbridge, N.Y. / Jordan-Elbridge) added 11 points, three rebounds and three assists.  Junior Conor Engle (Auburn, N.Y. / Auburn) had six points and nine rebounds.  Joe Estramonte (Greenwich, N.Y. / Greenwich Central) had six points, five assists and four rebounds. 
 
Potsdam (4-19, 2-14 SUNYAC) rallied earlier in the first half when it trailed 23-12 with 8:43 left. 
 
The Bears answered with a 16-4 run to take a 28-27 lead on a Graf lay up.  Williams converted a 3-point play on a lay up and free throw, a Rishawd Hendricks jumper, a Colin Peterson jumper, a Hendricks 3-pointer and a lay up by Adams.
 
The Bears were able to get to the free throw line for nine more attempts, but converted just 12-of-24 from the charity stripe.  The Cardinals (19-4, 13-3 SUNYAC) made 12-of-15 from the line. 
 
Plattsburgh was also aided by a plus 15 advantage on the boards. 
 
Potsdam will be back in action to face Buffalo State on Friday at 8 p.m.