POTSDAM, N.Y. – The SUNY Potsdam men’s basketball team shot 55 percent from the field and made eight 3-pointers Friday night against Oneonta State, but fell 80-71 in the State University of New York Athletic Conference opener for both teams at Welsh Gymnasium.

The Bears (1-3 overall, 0-1 SUNYAC) traded blows throughout the game with Oneonta, but were outscored 22-11 at the free throw line, allowing the Red Dragons to pull away down the stretch by converting 13-of-14 free throws in the second half.

“We had four or five possessions where we were impatient (down the stretch) and we didn’t finish possessions on defense,” Potsdam coach Sherry Dobbs said. “I’m disappointed with our defensive effort … we just can’t play that way.”

Senior wing Anthony Williams (Long Island, N.Y.) led the way with 15 points, six rebounds and four steals for Potsdam, which held a 37-35 halftime advantage after shooting 61 percent in the first half and 6-of-7 from the free throw line. The Bears were unable to sustain the effort at the line in the second frame, shooting just 5-of-13 from the charity stripe.

Junior Brad Drysdale (Brooklyn, N.Y.) tallied 10 points and four blocks off the bench, which outscored the Oneonta’s reserves 29-10 in the contest.

“Brad did a great job giving us a spark off the bench,” Dobbs said. “We made some strides and executed offensively, but we need to make our free throws.”

In a back-and-forth affair with five ties and 15 lead changes, the Red Dragons (1-3, 1-0) led 7-0 just under two minutes into the game until the Bears made a run to take a 22-16 advantage, its largest of the game.

The teams traded baskets until the 3:27 mark of the second half, when a 3-pointer by Brian Hooks gave Oneonta a 67-62 lead. The Bears tied the game at 67-67 on a breakaway layup by Williams, but the Red Dragons responded with another 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to take the lead for good.

Potsdam doubled up Oneonta in points off turnovers (22-11) and points in the paint (32-16).

Junior Skip Schwartz (Rochester, N.Y.) added 14 points on 4-of-5 shooting from 3-point range.

Potsdam returns to the floor tomorrow against New Paltz. Tip-off at Welsh Gymnasium is set for 4 p.m.