Box Score Saratoga Springs, N.Y. – The Skidmore College men's basketball team outscored Bard 44-25 in the second half en route to a 73-56 Liberty League victory, Friday night at the Williamson Sports Center.
 
The Thoroughbreds improve to 9-2 overall and 3-0 in league play, while the Raptors fall to 3-7 overall and 1-1 league.
 
Bard was able to get the lead in the first half and led by as many as 11 after a made free throw from Francis Arnold at 6:11.  Skidmore was able to chip away and cut the halftime lead to two at 31-29 after a pair of free throws from Gerard O'Shea.
 
The Thoroughbreds came out strong in the second half, opening on an 11-2 run.  The teams traded baskets over the next few minutes, but an 11-0 run gave Skidmore a commanding 20 point lead.  Melvis Langyintuo started the run with a lay-up, while John Mantas followed with back-to-back threes and Langyintuo capped it with a three of his own to take a 63-43 lead with 7:24 remaining.
 
The Raptors would get no closer than within 15 down the stretch as the Thoroughbreds earned their fifth straight victory, 73-56.
 
Langyintuo had a game-high 17 points and eight rebounds to lead Skidmore.  Mantas chipped in with 14 points off the bench, while O'Shea finished with 11 points and Terron Victoria had 10 and a game-high five assists.
 
Matt Shubert led the way for Bard, tallying 16 points and five rebounds.  Yonah Greenstein added 11 and Arnold finished with 10 points.
 
The Thoroughbreds shot 56.67% (17-30) in the second half, while holding the Raptors to 24.0% (6-25) and outscored the Bard bench, 27-11.

"Credit Bard, I thought they brought it to us in the first half" coach Joe Burke said. "They are much improved and certainly made us earn a hard fought win."

"I was proud of how we responded defensively in the 2nd half. Defense is our identity and the reason we have been successful. When we make that our focus, we can be pretty tough to beat."
 
Skidmore travels to Troy tomorrow, for a 4 p.m. matchup with RPI.