Box Score
Potsdam, N.Y.-- Skidmore College senior
Jeff Altimar hit the 1000-point career mark with a a game-high 13 points to lead the Thoroughbreds to a 65-57 Liberty League win at Clarkson.
The Thoroughbreds are 9-5 overall and 3-1 in Liberty League play, while the Golden Knights are 8-6 and 0-3.
Altimar sunk a pair of free throws in the waning seconds to become the 13th Skidmore player to record his 1,000th-career point.
The Golden Knights fell to 8-6 overall and 0-3 in league play on the season, losing their third straight conference game by less than 10 points. Skidmore improved to 9-5 and 3-1.
Clarkson struggled in virtually every aspect of the game in the first 10 minutes of Friday's contest, but somehow the Knights trailed by just seven points with 8:45 remaining in the half. A 9-0 spurt from the Knights, capped by a Jonathan Hood lay up, gave Clarkson a lead with just over five minutes to go. It would be the Knights' last, however, as Skidmore finished the period with a 9-2 run response to take a five-point lead into the intermission.
The two teams went back and forth to start the second half, and a Felix Llanos (Queens, NY) jumper brought Clarkson back to within a single point, 41-40, with 10:13 left. Still down just two with six minutes to go, Clarkson found itself on the wrong end of an 8-0 run and suddenly down by 10 just two minutes later. From there, Clarkson tried to climb back into the contest, getting numerous chances on the offensive glass, but the Knights couldn't cut the deficit to fewer than six points the rest of the way, finally settling back behind by eight.
In addition to Altimar's 13 points, Gerard O'Shea contributed 11 for the Thoroughbreds.
"I first want to congratulate Jeff, scoring 1000 points is an unbelievable accomplishment" said coach Joe Burke. "He is an extremely hard worker and a kid of great character. I am thrilled for him and his family"
"I thought this was great win for the program. Clarkson is really talented and was undefeated at home. We knew it would be a great challenge and I thought we brought just enough defensive intensity to grind it out"
"I continue to believe the strength of this group is our balance. Every night someone different can step up for us. Tonight I thought we got key contributions from our bench"
Skidmore continues its North Country trip with a Saturday afternoon game at St. Lawrence.
