NEW PALTZ, N.Y.- Despite having four players score in double figures, SUNY Potsdam fell in a shootout, 96-87, to SUNY New Paltz. Sophomore Rob Duquette led the Bears with 24 points and 11 rebounds but Hawks guard Matt Devine scored a game-high 43 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the victory.

New Paltz (6-5, 3-2 SUNYAC) used a supreme three-man effort to take down the Bears. The trio of Devine, Harris Wichard, and Nick Taldi combined to score a remarkable 90 of the teams 96 points. Wichard connect on nine of his ten field goal attempts and Taldi shot a scorching 5-of-7 from behind the arc.

The two teams put on an offensive display, especially in the first half. The Hawks shot 64.3 percent from the field and Potsdam countered by shooting 60 percent as the Bears went into the locker room with a slim 53-50 lead. Duquette led the Bears attack with 13 first half points, and junior Josh Lambert knocked down 6-of-7 field goals in the half to give him 12 points.

Potsdam began the second half quickly, scoring three straight baskets to extend the lead to 59-50. At the 15:59 mark, Duquette nailed a three to give the Bears a 10-point lead, their largest of the game. Over the next five minutes, New Paltz would use the strength of a 14-0 run to regain, and then extend, the lead. The Bears were looking at a nine point deficit with 2:25 remaining but weren’t done fighting. Junior Curtis Pierce scored four straight points and the Bears cut the lead to 88-85 with only 56 seconds left. Potsdam was forced to foul and they got the player they wanted to send to the line. Shalik Jenkins hadn’t scored the entire game and had only attempted one field goal but he calmly stepped to the line and sank both free throws to ensure the victory.

Coach Sherry Dobbs was pleased with the offensive effort but wasn’t happy with the result.

“We did a much better job offensively and created transition opportunities. I saw a lot of positive things but we knew we couldn’t get into a shootout with them and that’s exactly what happened,” said Dobbs. “Defensively we just had a few too many lapses.”

For the evening, Potsdam shot 45.9 percent from the field and connected on 40 percent of their long range attempts. New Paltz shot 64.7 percent and hit 55 percent from three. Remarkably, the Hawks didn’t grab a single offensive rebound and the Bears owned a 38-27 advantage on the boards.

Potsdam will return to action Saturday afternoon when they travel to Plattsburgh for a 4 p.m. tip-off.