Men's hoops comes up short at RPI

Box Score Troy, N.Y. - The Skidmore College men's basketball team suffered its first Liberty League loss of the season on Saturday afternoon, 88-85 at RPI.

The Thoroughbreds fall to 9-3 overall and 3-1 league, while the Engineers improve to 5-7 overall and 2-2 in league play.

The teams traded baskets through most of the first half before a late 20-8 run to give the home team a 49-36 lead at the break.

Skidmore chipped away at the lead to start the second half and took its first lead of the game on a Melvis Langyintuo layup with 7:54 remaining. The Thoroughbreds led by three after a basket by Terron Victoria at 3:28, but were unable to hold on.

A layup from Matthew Pooley at 1:29 gave RPI its final lead of the game. Victoria cut the lead to two on a Victoria layup with six seconds, but after a free throw from Jamie Zajac, Langyintuo's desperation three came up short and the Engineers held on for an 88-85 victory.

Langyintuo scored a game-high 21 points and pulled down seven boards for Skidmore. Victoria added 20 and Kyle Clark and Brian Lowry chipped in with 12 apiece.

Pooley led RPI with 20 points and Zajac added 13 points. Redon Qello chipped in with 10 points and nine rebounds off the bench.

The Engineers finished 52.2% (12-23) from beyond the arc, including 8-12 in the first half.

"Myself and everyone in that locker room knew we had to be better than we were today" coach Joe Burke said. "There are no excuses, you can't defend like we did and expect to beat a good team like RPI on the road."

"RPI is committed to a hectic style of play and you have to take advantage of it. We had open shots and did not make them."

"We need to understand that we are going to get everyone's best game. There are no easy wins in this league. We have to put this behind us quickly and get ready for another very tough road game on Tuesday."

The Thoroughbreds return to action on Tuesday at Clarkson.

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