(Potsdam, N.Y.)- The SUNY Canton men's basketball team kicked off the new year with a thrilling 73-72 overtime win against Johnson State College Friday night at SUNY Potsdam's Maxcy Hall.

The second half and overtime was a wild 25 minutes as both teams combined for four ties and four lead changes and several nail-biting moments to end both regulation and overtime.

The Badgers had stretched the lead to their largest of the night at eight points with 14:56 left in regulation before the Roos (2-7) clawed back to tie the game two minutes later off a basket from Tony Valentin (Perth Amboy, N.Y.) who scored a game-high 34 points.

The game would see-saw the rest of the way as the Roos held the lead for most of the waning moments of regulation.  Johnson State tied the game for the final time with 1:56 remaining at 66-66.

That score would hold until the final seconds of the half.  The Roos forced a turnover with just three seconds remaining and and had a chance to win the game in regulation.  But SUNY Canton turned it over after inbounding the ball giving Johnson State one more chance but the Badgers missed a shot and a tip in at the buzzer sending the game into overtime.

In the extra session SUNY Canton outscored Johnson State 7-6 but again had to hold their breath and come up with a big defensive stop at the buzzer.  

Deric Alston (Jacksonville, N.C.) sank a pair of free throws with six seconds left putting the Roos ahead 73-69.  But Leandro Martinez drilled a 3-pointer to pull the Badgers within one with three seconds on the clock and then the Roos turned the ball over on the ensuing inbounds play giving Johnson State one more chance.  The Badgers got a good shot off but it would not fall and the Roos hung on for the win.

Valentin scored 21 of his points in the first half and finished with six 3-pointers, five rebounds and two assists.

Jajuan Williams (Jacksonville, N.C.) added 14 points and four assists.  Alston finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and four assists and Tony Parker (Sodus, N.Y.) and Jeff Grenier (Whitehall, N.Y.) each grabbed nine rebounds.

Martinez led the Badgers with 18 points and five boards.  Nate Dodge and Chuck Harper each added 17 points apiece.