(Potsdam, N.Y.)- Despite the hot shooting of senior guard Tony Valentin (Perth Amboy, N.J.) the SUNY Canton men's basketball team couldn't overcome Clarkson University as they dropped a 71-61 decision to the Golden Knights Tuesday night in Potsdam. The Roos fell to 0-3 overall while Clarkson moved to 2-0 overall.

Valentin dropped in 36 points on 16 of 32 shooting from the field. Valentin kept the Roos in the game with 22 points in the opening half going 10-for-18.

SUNY Canton trailed 36-28 at the break but chipped away at the lead and pulled even at 40-40 on a jumper from Valentin with 14:20 on the clock.

The Knights led by a single point with just over 10 minutes left in the game when Brandon Linton canned a three-pointer that started a 10-0 Clarkson run. The Knights hit several key free throws down the stretch to hold on for their second win over the Roos in as many years.

Valentin finished with a pair of three-pointers, eight rebounds, and two assists.
Jajuan Williams (Jacksonville, N.C.) added nine points, three rebounds, and two steals in his season debut. Tony Parker (Sodus, N.Y.) had eight points and eight boards.

Jonathan Hood and Elson Pickering each had a double-double to lead the Knights. Pickering had 18 points and 12 rebounds and Hood had 13 points and 10 boards. Linton finished with eight points.