Box Score SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.-- Connor Merrill and Aldin Medunjanin combined for 34 points, 17 rebounds, and six blocked shots to lead the Skidmore College men's basketball team to a 73-65 non-league win over Castleton State College, Tuesday night at the Williamson Center.
 
The Thoroughbreds are off to a 2-0 start, while it was the season opener for the Spartans.
 
Merrill led all scorers with 19 points to go along with seven rebounds and four blocks.  Medunjanin had his second straight double/double. He scored 11 of his 15 points in the second half and had 10 rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and two blocks.
 
Chad Copleland led three Castleton players in double figures with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Rob Coloutti had 15 points and Carnelius green added 10 points and three steals.
 
The Spartans took an early 7-4 lead, behind four points from Copeland and a three-pointer from Coloutti, but Skidmore quickly went on an 11-0 run to go up 15-7. The Thoroughbreds would stay in front the rest of the way.  
 
Nanribet Yiljep hit a three-pointer to start the run. Perun Kovacevic scored the next five points with a three and a layup off an offensive rebound. Merrill capped the run with a three of his own with 13:03 left in the first half.
 
Skidmore led by as many 10 in the half, but Castleton hung around, cutting the lead to four, 35-31 on a put back by Copeland with 43 second to play. Medunjanin responded with a jumper as the shot clock expired to give the Thoroughbreds a 37-31 lead at the break.
 
The Spartans hung around in the second half, trailing by two 42-40 with 16:33 to play.   Skidmore used a 10-0 run to open it up 52-40.  The Thoroughbreds wouldn't let Castleton any closer than the eight point, 73-65 final.
 
For the Thoroughbreds, Kovacevic finished with nine points and seven rebounds and Eric Sanders had nine points. Isaac Carp contributed eight points and five rebounds off the bench.
 
"I'm happy with the result tonight," said Skidmore coach Joe Burke. I thought we found a way to gut it out. Castleton is always a tough game they have some good players and are well coached.
 
"We are finding out a lot about ourselves with these early games. There is so much for us to improve on especially with our end of game situations.  We need to get back to work tomorrow to tighten some things up. We have a huge challenge on our hands when Babson rolls into town on Saturday."
 
Skidmore continues its opening homes stand on Saturday at 2 p.m. against Babson College.