Potsdam, NY – Forwards Finn Cork and Braeden Burns each recorded double-doubles and avoided fifth foul disqualifications late to help the Clarkson University Men's Basketball team claim a 66-63 non-league win over SUNY Potsdam on Tuesday evening at Alumni Gymnasium.

The Golden Knights have just one non-league game remaining and improved to 4-3 overall while Potsdam fell to 0-5. Clarkson returns after the break to host Liberty League opponents Skidmore College and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute the first weekend of December.

The game was close throughout the first half with each team never holding more than a five-point advantage. Clarkson's came early when Steve DeRegis knocked down three free throws to make it 7-2, while Potsdam was up five on two occasions midway through the half. The Knights would come all the way back to regain the lead 32-30 when Finn Cork converted in the paint, but three free throws down the stretch allowed the Bears to head to the locker room up by one.

At the start of the second, Potsdam held Clarkson's offense quiet and quickly moved to an eight-point lead. The margin expanded to nine twice shortly thereafter, but the Knights responded with an 11-2 run to tie the game when Finn Cork made a short hook shot to put the tally at 47-47. Potsdam went back up by small margins, but a Lorenzo Rappa jumper tied the game at 56 and Clarkson would never trail again. Rappa made another layup a few moments later to give the Knights a six-point margin with 2:45 remaining, though Potsdam would again chip away to make it interesting. Mohammad Sylla scored on a layup with less than 30 seconds to go to pull Potsdam within one, only to see Rappa make two free throws with 6.2 seconds left to lift the Knights back to a three-point advantage. A last second long heave from Nicholas Cortez came up short as time expired and the Green and Gold escaped with the win.

Finn Cork was 7-for-11 from the floor and had a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds while also adding in four assists. Braeden Burns nearly matched those figures with 14 points and 12 rebounds going 7-for-13 from the field. Steve DeRegis had a team-high 17 points, shooting 5-for-8 from the field and 5-for-5 from the line. Lorenzo Rappa also reached double figures with 10 points.

For Potsdam, Mohammad Sylla shot 8-for-15 for 21 points, Nicholas Cortez finished with 12 points, and Parker Kelly added 10 points. A key for Clarkson was a considerable advantage in rebounds (46-31), specifically on the offensive glass where the Knights had 19 and Potsdam was held to just seven.