Box Score

Poughkeepsie, N.Y.-- The Skidmore College men's basketball team moved into a four-way tie for first with an 81-60 Liberty League win Friday at Vassar College.

The Thoroughbreds are 4-2 in league play and 11-6 overall.  The Brewers have lost 15 straight to fall to 0-6 and 2-15.

Skidmore  forced 21 Brewer turnovers in the contest, most of which came at the hands of the Thoroughbreds feisty man-to-man press, while committing just six of their own in the decisive win.

The Brewers built an early 8-2 lead five minutes into play,  during which Skidmore shot just one of seven from the field. But the Thoroughbreds soon settled into their offense and found its way around Vassar's zone defense, rattling off a 10-0 run to lead 12-8 with 12:42 remaining in the first half.

Vassar managed to take the lead just one more time in the contest, when sophomore Caleb McGraw knocked down a three-pointer to put the home team in front 13-12. But the Brewers suffered from Skidmore's significant size advantage—the Thoroughbreds collected 18 offensive rebounds and outscored Vassar 24-12 in the paint—and fell behind by 15 at the half, 39-24.

In the second half Skidmore's defensive intensity only increased, and although Vassar's shooting improved from 31% in the first half to 50% in the second, they continued to struggle against the press. Skidmore collected nine steals in the second stanza, and their 15-point halftime lead swelled to 24 just two and a half minutes into the second half.

Skidmore benefited from a balanced scoring attack, with seven players contributing at least seven points. Junior Jeff Altimar led the way with 11 points, and Melvis Langyintuo and Sakhile Sithole each added 10.

The Thoroughbreds are at RPI on Saturday at 4 p.m.