Saratoga Springs, N.Y. – The Skidmore College men's basketball lost to Utica, 64-62 in Sunday afternoon's Hilton Garden Inn Invitational Championship. In the consolation game, Thomas defeated Bard, 101-72.

 

The Thoroughbreds fall to 4-2, while the Pioneers improve to 5-1.

 

Skidmore got the first basket of the game on a three from Gerard O'Shea (West Sand Lake, N.Y.) and continued to lead throughout the first half as Skidmore's first seven makes were all from beyond the arc. Utica was able to get within two points of the Thoroughbreds but never able to tie it up in the half as Skidmore took a 36-31 into halftime.

 

The teams traded buckets through the start of the second half until the Pioneers were able to grab their first lead of the game with 9:30 remaining on a Will Abrams lay-up. Skidmore took the lead right back on a pair of O'Shea free throws and then added to that lead with baskets from Jeff Altimar (Mefield, Mass.) and Sakhile Sithole (Pietermaritzburg, South Africa) to push the lead to five with 6:58 remaining.

 

Utica answered right back behind Abrams and took the lead for good with 2:52 remaining on a basket from Jeff Ward. Tournament MVP James Patterson made a lay-up and hit a pair of free throws to push the lead to five. O'Shea was able to cut the lead back to two on a three-point play with 20 seconds remaining but the Thoroughbreds final attempt to tie it up came up short as the Pioneers held on for the 64-62 win.

 

Abrams was named to the All-Tournament Team after finishing with a game-high 20 points and Patterson added 17 points.

 

O'Shea and Altimar earned All-Tournament Team honors, tallying 14 points and 11 points respectively.

 

Skidmore returns to action on Tuesday as they host Castleton at the Williamson Sports Center for an 8 p.m. tip-off.

 

 

Saratoga Springs, N.Y. – Jarrad DeVaughn had 34 point and nine rebounds to lead Thomas to a 101-72 victory over Bard in the Hilton Garden Inn Invitational consolation game, Sunday afternoon at the Williamson Sports Center. The Terriers improve to 2-4, while the Raptors fall to 0-8.

 

Francisco Alicea was selected to the All-Tournament Team as he finished with 27 points on 11-of-17 shooting from the floor. Ryan Newton and Franklin Salvador each added 12 for Thomas.

 

Frank Stortini led the way for Bard, scoring 23 on 9-of-11 shooting, including a perfect 5-5 on three pointers. Christian Marghella added 14 and Matt Shubert and Lamar Powell chipped in with 12. Shubert was also selected to the All-Tournament Team.