PLATTSBURGH, N.Y.—SUNY Plattsburgh (10-4, 5-2 SUNYAC) used an early second half run to pull away from the SUNY Potsdam men's basketball team (2-11, 1-6) 83-60 on Tuesday evening. Senior captain Zac Adams (Potsdam, N.Y./Potsdam) led the Bears with 13 points. Xavier Thomas paced the Cardinals with 14 points.

Only a few points separated the teams over the first 11 minutes of the contest. A layup from senior guard Tom Graf (Elbridge, N.Y./Jordan-Elbridge) at 8:53 got Potsdam to within 17-15. However, Plattsburgh would go on a 13-3 run to grab a 30-18 lead at 5:01, its biggest of the half. The Bears closed the period with a 12-10 stretch, thanks in part to two 3-pointers from junior guard Joe Estramonte (Greenwich, N.Y./Greenwich), and trailed 40-30 at the break.

The Cardinals' offense ignited to open the second half. Plattsburgh outscored Potsdam 25-7 in the first 11:31 of the final 20 minutes for a 65-37 lead. Graf scored the next four points to give the Bears a short respite from the Cardinals' momentum, but Plattsburgh surged again. Two free throws from Tyler Coppin-Carter gave the Cardinals their biggest lead of the game at 72-43 with 5:05 to go. Potsdam kept battling and closed the contest on a 17-11 run before falling 83-60.

Freshman guard Kyle Santoro (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Our Lady of Lourdes) recorded a career-high nine points for the Bears. Estramonte. Graf and junior forward Tariq McIntyre (Brooklyn, N.Y./Thomas Jefferson) each finished with six points.

Ezra Hodgson followed Thomas with 12 points for Plattsburgh. Edward Correa and Jordan Moody totaled nine and eight, respectively.

With the win, Tom Curle became Plattsburgh's all-time winningest coach with 205 victories.

The Bears head to Central New York this weekend with games at Brockport and Geneseo. Potsdam faces the Golden Eagles at 5:30 p.m. on Friday and the Blue Knights at 2 p.m. on Saturday.