First-year Luke Hicks recorded 21 points and graduate student Riley Naclerio added 18 points to lead the St. Lawrence University men's basketball team, but the SUNY Potsdam Bears outshot the Saints to post a 90-77 win on Tuesday night in Potsdam, New York.

Hicks, who went 8-for-15 from the floor and 4-for-5 from the line, also grabbed two rebounds and three steals, while Naclerio grabbed a team-best nine rebounds and two steals for the Saints. Sophomore Brandon Arnold finished third on the Saints' squad with 11 points, while Dom DeRegis and Ben Crawford recorded eight and seven respectively.

In the first half, the Bears jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead, but the Saints rallied on a 6-2 run to bring the game within one and take a 17-15 lead on a 3-pointer from DeRegis. The Saints held the lead but the score was quickly tied up by Potsdam (21-21) with just under nine minutes remaining in the half.

After three more ties, each team battled for control of the lead, but the Bears regained control as Serigne Kane went 2-for-2 from the line and Danny Delsol-Lowry banked a 3-pointer with 2:55 to play.  

At the break, the Bears held a 43-37 advantage over the Saints.

The Bears worked quickly to extend their lead and moved into the double digits as Delsol-Lowry completed the 3-point play to lead 54-44. Kane went for the layup to increase Potsdam's lead to 12 with 12:33 to play in the second half.

In an attempt to rally, the Saints charged to an 8-0 run, bringing the game back within four. The Bears regained momentum, returned to a double-digit lead and after a series of fouls on both sides, sealed the win.

Dante Langley shot 8-for-14 from the floor and 3-for-6 from the arc to lead the Bears with 25 points and nine rebounds, while Nosa Onabar recorded 16 points and Delsol-Lowry and Kane each finished with 14 points and combined for 12 rebounds.

"You can't turn the ball over that many times against a good team," said head coach Chris Downs. "It is a compounding mistake. We don't make the shot and they get an extra shot. Potsdam scored 30 points off turnovers tonight. That's the difference."

Onabar grabbed a team-best four steals for the Bears, who finished with a total of 12 steals against the Saints. 

The Bears shot 50 percent from the field to top the Saints' 45 percent.

St. Lawrence fell to 0-1 on the season, while SUNY Potsdam improved to 1-0.

The Saints will travel to Scranton, Pennsylvania to participate in the Scranton College Tip Off Tournament on November 16-17.