POTSDAM, N.Y. – The SUNY Potsdam men’s basketball team combined clutch free throw shooting with a stingy, hard-nosed defensive effort Saturday to defeat Geneseo 55-54 in a State University of New York Athletic Conference match-up at Jerry Welsh Gymnasium.

The Bears (4-7 overall, 3-1 SUNYAC) shot 15-for-21 from the free throw line, including 13-of-17 in the second half, and allowed the Blue Knights to shoot just 34.5 percent from the field, including 28.6 percent in the first half.

Geneseo (6-4, 0-3), which managed to stay in the game due to 19 offensive rebounds, including 12 in the first half, had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation, but a running 3-pointer by Ethan Estabrooks hit the back iron just before the buzzer sounded.

“It wasn’t pretty, but we made enough plays down the stretch to grind out a win,” Potsdam coach Sherry Dobbs said. “You have to do that in this conference. It was tough for both teams to come out on a Saturday afternoon after playing the night before.”

A pair of free throws by freshman Greg Torchon (Spring Valley, N.Y.) put the Bears ahead 55-47 with 3:34 remaining in the game. However, a pair of turnovers and a missed 3-pointer allowed the Blue Knights to get within one point after a 3-pointer with 1:11 to play. Following empty possessions by both teams, the Bears missed a pair of free throws, allowing Geneseo one last attempt at the win.

“We handled their defensive pressure in the second half and knocked down enough free throws, which was key,” Dobbs said. “We were a little sloppy at times trying to do too much, but we got the win.”

Pierce finished with 18 points and eight rebounds to lead Potsdam. Senior Anthony Williams (Long Island, N.Y.) totaled 13 points and five rebounds, while Torchon posted 10 points, including 5-of-5 from the free throw line.

“Anthony is our most experienced player, and he made some experience plays at the end of the game,” Dobbs said. “Curtis continues to be consistent, and I thought Greg Torchon had a great weekend with his decision-making and scoring.”

The two teams battled back and forth throughout the contest, and with the exception of rebounding, neither team had a decided advantage in any aspect of the game.

The Bears resume conference play this Friday, Jan. 14, at Oswego. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. in Oswego, N.Y.