SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Skidmore College men's basketball team came from behind to beat Union College, 75-73 in Liberty League action Friday night at the Williamson Center.
 
The Thoroughbreds complete the sweep of the Dutchmen to improve to 10-6 overall and 5-3 in the Liberty League. Union is 6-9 and 4-4.
 
Edvinas Rupkus scored a game-high 28 points, going six-for-six from the floor in the second half to lead the Skidmore. Erik Sanders had 19 points and seven boards. Chase Ta also had seven rebounds with 13 points and Royce Paris had eight points with three assists and two steals. Charlie Williams had four blocks and four points. The Thoroughbreds shot 46%, including 59% in the second half.
 
Wade McNamara led Union with 25 points and added six rebounds. William Hython had his fourth straight double-double for the Dutchmen with 11 points and 10 rebounds along with four assists. Deshon Burgess scored 16 and freshman Kevin McNoble had a career high with 11 points.
 
Union had a nine point lead at halftime, 43-34.  After five second half lead changes, the Dutchmen were up by eight after a three pointer by Burgess made it 66-58 with 8:39 left.
 
Skidmore went on a 15-5 run as Rupkus had a layup for a 73-71 lead with 3:19 left. McNamara tied it at 73-73 with 3:05 left but Rupkus hit a jumper with 1:13 remaining in what proved to be the winning basket. Union missed its final five shots over the final 3:05.

COACH BURKE:
I am proud of how we hung in there tonight. Basketball is such a game of runs and you have to stay in the fight. Union has a good team, they are well Coached and they had us on the ropes a couple times. We kept battling and made some big plays at the end.  

I realize the bar has been set very high around here.  I am asking a lot from our young guys to help our veterans so that we can become the best team we can be in February. We are starting to come together as a group but we need to keep getting better.