By: by Matt Palisin, Asst. SID
BOXSCORE
BOX SCORE
FREDONIA, N.Y. -- The Fredonia State men's basketball team won a defensive struggle over Potsdam, 47-44, in Steele Hall on Saturday to complete a men's and women's weekend sweep of the North Country. Both defeated Plattsburgh on Friday, and the women downed the Bears in the early game.
With the win, the Devils improve to 9-6 overall and 4-5 in the SUNYAC. Potsdam goes to 4-11 and 2-7 in the conference.
Both offenses started slowly. After seven minutes of play, Potsdam held a 6-3 lead. The Devils then went on a 14-0 tear to post a 17-6 lead.
Kevin Mitchell accounted for 12 of the 14 points, nailing a pair of threes and adding three more field goals.
Amir Billups had the other Devil basket.
Potsdam scored the game's next three points before the Devils ran off the final seven to give a 24-11 halftime score. Fredonia State's
Dalton Kashmer scored the half's final six points.
The Devils held the lead until 11:13 of the second half when Tony Efese hit a three pointer to give Potsdam a 30-28 lead.
The Devils would tie the game 34-all following a Bryant dunk and
Leonard Smith coast-to-coast drive at the 6:30 mark.
Bryant would connect on a free throw at the 5:20 mark to give the Devils a 35-34 lead that would stand the rest of the way.
Potsdam made a last ditch-effort in the closing seconds. The Devils nursed a 47-41 lead when Potsdam's Zac Adams nailed a three pointer with five seonds left to move Potsdam within three points.
The Bears fouled Smith on the inbounds pass, leading to a one-and-one with 1.7 seconds left. Smith missed the charity shot and Pierce hurled a three-quarter court shot that was wide right.
Mitchell led the Devils with 14 points -- all in the first half -- and Bryant added 13 and Kashmer had 11. Smith had four steals and four assists. The Devils held Potsdam to 32 percent shooting (15 of 46) for the game. The Devils shot 41 percent (17 of 42).
Potsdam was led Pierce and Efese with 10 points each. The Bears held a 35-25 advantage in rebounds.
