Box Score Saratoga Springs, N.Y.-- Smothering defense and sharp shooting at key moments resulted in a 67-49 Liberty League win over RIT for the Skidmore College men's basketball team Saturday at the Williamson Sports Center.
 
The Thoroughbreds are off to a 2-0 league start and 8-2 overall. The team's lone losses are to nationally ranked teams.  The Tigers fall to 4-7 and 0-2.
 
Skidmore built a 36-25 lead at the break, scoring 19 points off eight RIT turnovers.  The Thoroughbreds led by as many as 17 during the first stanza.
 
The Tigers clawed their way back into in the second half, using a 13-2 run over a 4:34 span in the second half to tie the game 45-45 with 8:08 to play.  Skidmore immediately responded when John Mantas knocked down a consecutive pair of threes to key a 14-2 run to open the lead back to 12, 59-47 with 3:23 to play. 
 
The Thoroughbred defense held to only four points over the game's final 8:08 for the 67-49 win.
 
Brian Lowry led the Thoroughbreds with 16 points, including 13 in the first half.  Melvis Langyintuo had 11 points and four blocks, while Terron Victoria added 10 points.  Mantas finished with eight points and three assists.  Gerard O'Shea had seven assists, eight points and three steals.
 
Brendan Harder was the lone Tiger in double figures with 12 points off the bench.
 
 
Skidmore returns to action Jan. 13 at 8 p.m. at home against Bard College.
 
Newspaper Box Score
RIT vs Skidmore College
1/7/12 4 pm at Williamson  Center, Saratoga Springs, NY
At Williamson  Center, Saratoga Springs, NY
SKIDMORE COLLEGE 67, RIT 49
RIT (4-7, 0-2 Liberty)
Brendan Harder 3-6 6-6 12; Justin Heisig 3-9 3-6 9; Gabe Nicasio 3-8 0-0 7;
Kurt Fenderbosch 2-2 0-0 5; Jameel Balenton 2-3 0-1 5; Nick Dobson 1-3 2-4
4; Ronnie Canestro 1-2 0-0 3; RJ Kalb 0-2 2-2 2; Eric Travis 1-2 0-0 2;
Desmond Scott 0-4 0-0 0; Sean Sweeney 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 16-43 13-19 49.
SKIDMORE COLLEGE (8-2, 2-0 Liberty)
Brian Lowry 5-11 2-2 16; Melvis Langyintuo 3-8 3-4 11; Terron Victoria 3-8
4-6 10; John Mantas 3-7 0-0 8; Gerard O'Shea 3-9 2-2 8; Kyle Clark 3-3 0-0
8; Sakhile Sithole 2-4 0-0 6; Brian Moore 0-0 0-0 0; Kevin Dahill 0-0 0-0 0;
Eli Johnston 0-0 0-0 0; Garrett Bush 0-0 0-0 0; Connor Merrill 0-0 0-0 0;
Quenten Howard 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 22-51 11-14 67.
RIT...........................   25   24  -   49
Skidmore College..............   36   31  -   67
3-point goals--RIT 4-11 (Gabe Nicasio 1-1; Jameel Balenton 1-1; Kurt
Fenderbosch 1-1; Ronnie Canestro 1-1; Desmond Scott 0-2; Sean Sweeney 0-2;
Justin Heisig 0-1; Brendan Harder 0-2), Skidmore College 12-34 (Brian Lowry
4-8; Kyle Clark 2-2; John Mantas 2-4; Melvis Langyintuo 2-7; Sakhile Sithole
2-4; Quenten Howard 0-1; Gerard O'Shea 0-5; Terron Victoria 0-3). Fouled
out--RIT-None, Skidmore College-None. Rebounds--RIT 32 (Justin Heisig 6),
Skidmore College 30 (Melvis Langyintuo 6). Assists--RIT 8 (Gabe Nicasio 2;
Desmond Scott 2), Skidmore College 14 (Gerard O'Shea 7). Total fouls--RIT
16, Skidmore College 15. Technical fouls--RIT-None, Skidmore College-None.
A-285