FREDONIA, N.Y. -- The Fredonia State men's basketball team fell to Potsdam, 78-66, on Friday. Moussa Samassa led the Devils with 19 points and eight rebounds. Tyler Roberts had 13 points and three steals. 

The game started with back-to-back layups by Adam Braniecki and De'Quan Smith. Potsdam took its first lead on a layup by Tyrese Baptiste, 7-6. After one more lead change, the Bears would not look back.

By the end of the half, the Bears would have their biggest margin to that point, leading 41-29.

The Devils battled back to within four points at the 14:40 mark of the second. A three pointer on a fast break by Roberts and midrange jumper from Dydy Bryan cut the lead to 50-46. Bryan would finish with nine points.

With Potsdam leading 64-54, Samassa scored the game's next six points -- a three pointer, a free throw, and a layup to again cut the lead to four, 64-60, with 4:32 on the clock.

Potsdam outscored the Devils 14-6 to finish the game. Scoring came mostly from Jayquan Thomas and Isaiah Brown who accounted for 49 of the team's points. Thomas connected for 27 points, while Brown finished with a double-double with 22 points and 11 boards. 

Shooting stats were relatively even for both teams. The Bears held significant edges in rebounding, 38-27, and in free throws. They shot 24 of 32 from the line to the Devils 10 of 14.

Potsdam improves to 10-3 overall and 5-1 in the conference.

The Devils (4-7 / 1-4) play host to Plattsburgh tomorrow in a 4 p.m. tipoff.


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