Box Score TROY, N.Y. - The Skidmore College men's basketball team (15-10, 9-7 Liberty League) will have a chance to defend its Liberty League title as it clinched the No. 4 seed Saturday afternoon in a hard-fought 73-66 loss at RPI (16-9, 11-5). 

Skidmore finished the regular season tied with Clarkson in the conference standings, but earns the playoff spot based on a stronger cumulative record (2-4 vs. 1-5 for Clarkson) against higher seeded teams.
 
The Thoroughbreds will square-off with top-seeded Hobart (19-6, 15-1) in a rematch of the last two Liberty League championship games. The Statesmen defeated Skidmore in both regular season meetings including a one-point overtime thriller, 67-66.
 
RPI dominated the first half, disrupting the Thoroughbreds offensive rhythm throughout much of the frame.  Conner Merrill was the lone bright spot in the first half for Skidmore, connecting on 4-of-5 from the field for eight points.  The home team was able to lengthen its lead by controlling the glass, collecting 28 rebounds including 10 on the offensive end to limit the opportunities Skidmore had.  Skidmore would never hold the lead in the first stanza and went into halftime trailing 34-20.
 
As the second half got underway, Skidmore showcased its offensive talent netting 11 consecutive points including eight by Eli Johnston en route to a 14-2 run to bring Skidmore within two points with 15:33 remaining.  A Daniel Martin dunk would stretch the Engineers lead to four, but a three-pointer by Sakhile Sithole cut the deficit to one point, 42-41. RPI halted its opponents momentum by rattling off a modest 7-0 run, extending its lead to eight points with roughly 12 minutes to play.
 
Skidmore battled to keep the game within striking distance when Sithole connected on yet another trey, his third of the half, making it 59-54 in favor of RPI.  The Thoroughbreds offense once again came to life at 7:44 when it went on a 9-2 run capped by an Eli Johnston three-pointer once again bringing Skidmore to within one point, 61-60.  A Brendan Farley three seemed to take the wind out of Skidmore's sails, as the Engineers limited Skidmore to only six points, including four free-throws over the final 3:36 of the game.  When the horn sounded, RPI held on for a 73-66 win.
 
Skidmore's comeback was ignited by hot shooting from beyond the arc as the Thoroughbreds drained six threes in the second half, despite shooting oh-for-nine in the first frame.  Sithole lead the charge for Skidmore, scoring 17 points including three treys.  Aldin Medunjanin scored all but two of his 12 points from the free throw line, converting on 10-of-12 attempts while nabbing six boards, three assists, three steals and two blocks.  Eli Johnston and Connor Merrill had strong performances as well, scoring 13 and 12 points, respectively.
 
RPI was led by Brendan Farley's game-high 19 points.  Farley also had nine rebounds in the win.  Daniel Martin had a double-double, scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 boards.