Box Score SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY -- Connor Merrill scored a career-high 32 points and added 15 rebounds, as the Skidmore College men's basketball took down SUNY Potsdam, 87-74, in its home opener Tuesday night at the Williamson Sports Center.
 
Merrill shot 12-16 from the field, including 6-7 from three-point range to lead all scorers. Tanner Brooks added 20 points, nine assists, four rebounds and four steals, Aldin Medunjanin had 19 points and seven assists and Erik Sanders chipped in 11 points and six rebounds.
 
Joe Estramonte led the Bears with 13 points, five rebounds and three assists, Rishawd Hendricks had 10 points and seven rebounds and Brandon Williams scored 11 points to go along with five boards.
 
The Thoroughbreds opened the game on an 11-2 run capped by a Brooks three-pointer. Potsdam chipped away the deficit, eventually taking a 20-18 lead with just over ten minutes remaining in the first half after Williams knocked down a jump shot.
 
The two teams continued to trade baskets, but the Bears were able to create some separation in the final two minutes of the first, as Joe Estramonte scored the final 11 points of the half, converting on two free-throws and hitting three consecutive three-point shots to give Potsdam a 45-39 lead at the break.
 
Skidmore responded in the second half, breaking the game open with a 22-6 run. Sanders and Merill hit back-to-back threes to tie the game at 45-45 in the first 45 seconds of the half.
 
Merill's layup with 16 minutes to play gave the Thoroughbreds the last lead that they would need at 51-50. Brooks and Merill combined for 13 points over a four-minute span to put Skidmore ahead 63-51, and Potsdam could not manage to pull closer, with the game ending 87-74.
 
The Thoroughbreds shot 46.7% from the field and 47.1% from three-point range, while combining for 21 assists.
 
Skidmore (3-1) hosts Middlebury College Saturday, Dec. 7 at 4 p.m.