POTSDAM, NY—Buffalo State (11-7/7-5) overcame and 12-point second-half deficit to slip past host Potsdam (2-15/1-10), 77-74, in a SUNYAC game this afternoon.
 
Larry Rivers (Syracuse/Fowler) led Buffalo State with 18 points and eight rebounds.  Chris Cartwright (Binghamton/Binghamton) added 15 points, eight boards and five assists, and Roderick Epps (Uniondale/Uniondale) chipped in 13 points.   
 
Potsdam held the lead for much of the opening half and took a 34-25 lead into the break.  The Bears maintained separation from the Bengals early in the second half and held its biggest advantage of the game at 61-49 with 10:39 remaining.  Buffalo State continued to trail 71-63, but stormed back to close the game with a 14-3 run over the final 1:40 to stun the hometown crowd. 
 
After a pair of Cartwright free throws cut the deficit to one with 44 seconds left, Epps came up with a steal that set up a 3-pointer by Cartwright to give the Bengals their first lead since the opening half at 74-72 with 37 seconds left.  Buffalo State would trade buckets from there before Potsdam missed a 3-pointer as time expires. 
 
Both teams shot 42 percent from the field, but Buffalo State outscored Potsdam 21-8 from the free throw line.  The Bears outscored Buffalo State 24-12 from beyond the arc, but shot just 40 percent (8 of 22) from the free-throw line. 
 
Buffalo State will next host Cortland next Friday at 5:30 p.m.