SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—The Skidmore College men's basketball team will be looking to return to the top of the Liberty League standings this weekend when it hosts crosstown rivals RPI and Union.
Skidmore (13-7, 10-2 Liberty League) vs. RPI (6-15, 3-9 Liberty League)Â
Game Details: Friday, Feb. 13 – 8 p.m. | Saratoga Springs, N.Y.Â
Game Coverage: Live Stats                           Â
VideoSCOUTING THE THOROUGHBREDS (13-7,10-2 Liberty League): Skidmore erased an 18-point second-half deficit in a 76-71 win over St. Lawrence on Tuesday…Senior forward
Connor Merrill and sophomore guard
Royce Paris tied for a game-high with 19 points…Junior guard
Aldin Medunjanin had 18 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals in the win.
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TEAM STATISTICS: Skidmore is 4-1 over its last five…The Thoroughbreds are 6-3 at home…Skidmore is 8-1 when shooting 44% or better from the field and 9-1 when shooting 33% or better from three…The Thoroughbreds lead the league in field goal percentage defense (37.1%), defensive rebounds per game (28.4) and rebounding margin (3.8)…Skidmore has beat conference opponents by an average of 10.8 points this season…The Thoroughbreds have limited Liberty League opponents to 56.3 points per game.
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STATISTICAL LEADERS: Paris has scored in double figures in four straight games…He is averaging 13.5 points and is shooting 54.4% (19-36) from the field over his last four games…Merrill is averaging 20 points and 5.6 rebounds per game over the last three games…Medunjanin is averaging 14.7 points, seven rebounds and 4.7 assists per game over the last three games.
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SCOUTING THE ENGINEERS (6-15, 3-9 Liberty League): RPI dropped two conference games over the weekend, falling at RIT and at Hobart…Sophomore guard Nate Kane tied for a team-high with 19 points against RIT, going 7 for 10 from the field including 5 for 7 from three…Junior forward Brian Hatcher had 19 points and 10 rebounds and junior forward Chase Almond added a double-double with 11 points and 10 assists…Hatcher posted his second consecutive double-double against the Statesmen with 15 points and 10 boards.
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TEAM STATISTICS: RPI is 2-6 on the road…The Engineers are shooting 43.6% from the field, placing them third in the league… RPI has attempted the fewest number of free throws in the conference (314)…The Engineers are second in Liberty League in assists per game (13.1) and third in blocked shots per game (3.1).
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STATISTICAL LEADERS: Almond leads the team in scoring (13.0 ppg) and ranks second in the conference in field goal percentage (50.4%) and rebounds per game (8.7) and fifth in blocked shots per game (1.2)…Kane is sixth in the league in 3-pointers per game (1.9)…Senior guard Josh Dugas leads the team in assists per game (2.9) and sits second on the team in scoring (12.4 ppg).
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LAST MEETING: Jan. 10, 2015 at RPI
Skidmore 59, RPI 40
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Skidmore shuts down RPI to remain unbeaten in Liberty playÂ
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vs. UnionÂ
Game Details: Saturday, Feb. 14 – 4 p.m. | Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Game Coverage: Live Stats                           Â
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SCOUTING THE DUTCHMEN (9-12, 3-9 Liberty League): Union was topped 67-59 at Hobart in its last contest…Junior William Hython posted a double-double with a 17 points and a game-high 15 rebounds…Senior Terrell Winney added 14 points, five rebounds and three assists.
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TEAM STATISTICS: Union is currently on a three-game losing skid and is 1-8 in its last nine games…The Dutchmen are 3-6 on the road…Union leads the league in scoring (75.2 ppg), but ranks last in scoring defense (74.2 ppg)…The Dutchmen are shooting a league-best 36.8% from 3-point range and 44.3% from the field, ranking second in the conference…Union has attempted a conference-high 477 free throws…The Ducthmen lead the league in turnover margin (2.81) and rank second in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.19)…The Dutchmen are 0-6 when recording fewer than 10 assists.
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STATISTICAL LEADERS: Hython leads the league in rebounds per game (9.7) and sits third in scoring (16.1 ppg) and field goal percentage (49.5%)…Winney is shooting a league-best 42.9% from beyond the arc…He is fifth in the conference in 2-pointers per game (2.1)…Sophomore guard Deshon Burgess is tied for fourth in the league in scoring (15.6 ppg)…He is sixth in field goal percentage (44.9%) and fifth in steals per game (1.5).
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LAST MEETING: Jan. 23, 2015 at Union
Skidmore 82, Union 63
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Medunjanin's near triple-double leads Skidmore to sixth straight winÂ
UP NEXT:The Thoroughbreds travel to St. Lawrence Friday, Feb. 20 for an 8 p.m. contest.
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