Men’s Basketball Team Upsets Top-Seeded Potsdam to Advance to SUNYAC Semifinals

POTSDAM, NY – — The SUNY New Paltz men’s basketball team, seeded eighth in this year’s SUNYAC Tournament, advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 1999 with a 59-53 upset win over top-seeded Potsdam this evening in Potsdam NY.

It’s the second time in five days that the Hawks have defeated the Bears. New Paltz defeated Potsdam 74-66 at Elting Gymnasium on Friday evening.

The Hawks (10-16) will now face fifth-seeded Brockport (16-10) in the semifinals on Friday evening at 8:00 p.m. at the Utica Memorial Auditorium in Utica, NY. The Golden Eagles, who have won the last two SUNYAC Tournament titles, eliminated fourth-seeded SUNYIT 82-65 to move onto the next round.

Senior guard Ben Davey (Andover, NJ) scored 14 of his game-high 16 points in the first half. Junior guard Joe Bell (Albany, NY) added 11 points for the Hawks who built a 35-27 first half lead.

Potsdam, who held New Paltz to 26 percent shooting as it tried to mount a second half comeback, was led by Jeff Brady who scored 12 points. The Bears dropped to 18-8 on the year.