SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.-- The Skidmore College men's basketball team is back in the Liberty League championship game after a 72-51 semifinal win over RIT, Wednesday night at the Williamson Center. 
 
The top-seed Thoroughbreds will host Clarkson University on Saturday at 2 p.m. with the winner receiving the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III championship.  
 
Skidmore (18-7) will take a seven-game win streak into Saturday's game. The Tigers end their season with a 13-13 record.
 
Aldin Medunjanin scored a game-high 21 points to go along with six assists, five steals, and five rebounds. Connor Merrill and Royce Paris scored 15 each, while Erik Sanders contributed 10 points, three assists and six rebounds.
 
Miguel Lopez was the lone RIT player in double figures with 11 points. A.J. Horde had eight points and three assists.
 
Skidmore outscored the Tigers 27-10 over the final 10 minutes of the first half to take a 40-20 lead into the break. The Thoroughbreds had a 13-0 advantage in points off turnovers in the half.  
 
A quick five points to open the second half on a three by Nanribet Yiljep and a thunderous dunk by Merrill opened a 25-point lead for Skidmore, 50-25.
 
The Tigers used a 12-2 run to cut the lead to 52-37 with 11:08 to play, but Skidmore remained in control and went on to the 72-51 win.   
 
"I'm really proud of the defensive effort tonight," said Skidmore coach Joe Burke. "I thought we set the tone physically,  we were flying around and had great attention to detail.

"Offensively we found a little bit of a rhythm in transition because of our ability to get stops.  When this group plays with that kind of energy we usually have success on the offense end.

"Saturday should be a lot of fun. You play all year and hope you have an opportunity to play for championship on your home court. We put ourselves in position but we also realize we are playing a really really good team. Should be a fun environment for both teams."

The Thoroughbreds will be hosting the Liberty League championship game for the first time in program history.  Skidmore won the 2011 and 2012 titles on the road. 
 
Clarkson will be making its second championship appearance and first since winning the 2008 tournament.  
 
The teams closed out the regular season against each other on Feb. 22, with Skidmore winning 69-53. The Thoroughbreds also won the first meeting on Jan. 13 at Clarkson, 63-46.