Men's basketball tops Ithaca in season opener, 82-74

Box Score SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- The Skidmore College men's basketball team battled to a 82-74 win over Ithaca in the opening game of the season for both teams, Saturday night at the Williamson Sports Center.

Skidmore junior guard Aldin Medunjanin had a double-double with a team-high 18 points and 10 rebounds to go along with six assists. Erik Sanders had 17 points and six rebounds, Perun Kovacevic added 13 points and six boards and Connor Merrill chipped in with 12 points and seven rebounds.

The two teams traded the lead in a back-and-forth first half. Skidmore opened up a four point lead just over six minutes into the game on a Larry Cermak tip-in, but Max Masucci provided the response for the Bombers, rattling off five-straight points to give Ithaca a 13-12 lead. The Thoroughbreds managed to restore a four-point cushion with 5:31 to play, as Sanders got a layup to fall to make it 26-22. Ithaca continued to chip away at the lead, but Medunjanin scored six points over the final 3:23 of the half to put Skidmore ahead 37-33 at the break.

The Bombers came out strong in the second half, opening the frame with a 10-2 run capped by a Joe Masino three-pointer. Skidmore bounced back with a 10-0 run to take a 51-44 lead. Masucci put Ithaca within three with a layup, but Isaac Carp drained a three to cap a 6-0 Thoroughbreds run, giving Skidmore a 57-48 lead with 9:18 to play. Carp hit another three just over two minutes later, giving the Thoroughbreds their biggest lead of the game at 63-51.

Marc Chasin and Joe Masino combined for 15 points in a five-minute span to bring Ithaca back within three with 56 seconds to play, but with the Bombers forced to foul, Skidmore was able to seal the win with free throws from Medunjanin and Nanribet Yiljep.

Chasin went 10-of-13 from the field including a perfect 6-of-6 from three-point range, leading all scorers with 29 points. Masino had 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists and Keffe Gitto added 12 points and four boards.

"Overall I'm very pleased that we came out with the win," said Skidmore head coach Joe Burke. "We have a number of things to improve on but I also think you need to credit Ithaca. They had a couple big time performances and kept coming back at us.

"In the second half we had very good leadership from the upper class. Some guys really stepped up at pivotal points and made big plays. We can enjoy it for the night and then we need to get ready for Castleton. I am certain they will come in here ready to play."

Skidmore hosts Castleton at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 18.

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Players Mentioned

#23 Isaac Carp: G; 6' 1"; Junior

#31 Larry Cermak: C; 6' 10"; Sophomore

#11 Perun Kovacevic: F; 6' 6"; Senior

#5 Aldin Medunjanin: G; 6' 4"; Junior

#33 Connor Merrill: F; 6' 6"; Senior

#32 Erik Sanders: F; 6' 5"; Junior

#3 Nanribet Yiljep: G/F; 6' 3"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#23 Isaac Carp
: 6' 1"; Junior
: G

#31 Larry Cermak
: 6' 10"; Sophomore
: C

#11 Perun Kovacevic
: 6' 6"; Senior
: F

#5 Aldin Medunjanin
: 6' 4"; Junior
: G

#33 Connor Merrill
: 6' 6"; Senior
: F

#32 Erik Sanders
: 6' 5"; Junior
: F

#3 Nanribet Yiljep
: 6' 3"; Senior
: G/F