SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.— Bard College saw a 20-point lead evaporate, but hung on for an 82-75 men's basketball Liberty League win over Skidmore College, Saturday at the Williamson Center.
 
The Thoroughbreds fall to 5-4 and 0-1 in league play, while the Raptors move to 4-6 and 1-0.
 
Evinus Rupkus led Skidmore with 23 points and Erik Sanders added 19. The pair combined for 33 poiknts in the second half.
 
Emmanuel Rainey had a game-high 33 for Bard, while DeVahnte Mosley went 7-10 from the floor on the way to 18 points.
 
The Raptors extended a 42-31 halftime lead into a 54-34 lead with 15:12 to play. The Thoroughbreds scratched their way back into it behind some clutch shooting from Rupkus and Sanders. Skidmore cut it to three, 70-67 on a pair of free throws by Sanders with 1:59 left. Harry Johnson responded with a clutch three for Bard and the Raptors hit seven of eight free throws over the final 36 seconds to secure the win.

"Tough game, credit Bard they were definitely the better team today and deserved to win," said Skidmore coach Joe Burke.  "They gave us a hard time last year and I'm even more impressed with them this year.

"As for us, we need to regroup. We are still searching to find our identity with the guys that we can put on the floor. We also need to have a short memory and get ready for what's going to be a really hard game tomorrow. I was happy with our fight in the second half, but it was not nearly enough."
 
Skidmore returns to the court on Sunday for a home league game against Hobart at 4 p.m.