SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—Edvinas Rupkus and Erik Sanders combined for 40 points to lead the Skidmore College men's basketball team to a 71-54 Liberty League win over Hobart College, Sunday evening at the Williamson Center.
 
The win snaps a three-game losing steak for the Thoroughbreds who move to 6-4 overall and 1-1 in league play. The Statesmen drop to 4-6 and 0-2.
 
Rupkus broke the 20-point mark for the third straight game with 21 to go along with three assists. Sanders scored 19 after going 5-9 from three-point range.  Royce Paris added 10 points and Isaac Carp hit for 11 points and contributed three assists and three steals off the bench.  Paris converted two of his offensive rebounds into second chance baskets. and Carp hit two clutch three pointers and assisted on key threes by Rupkus and Jack Byrne.
 
Hobart didn't have a player in double figures. Colin Dougherty had nine points and four steals and Pete Drescher scored nine points.
 
The Statesmen led 10-7 five minutes in, but Sanders hit a three to ignite an 11-1 run that would put Skidmore up 18-11 with 10:12 to play in the half.  The Thoroughbreds never trailed after that, increasing the lead to 37-24 at the half and by as many as 28 in the second half (64-36, 8:35).
 
Skidmore hit 11 of 28 (39.3%) three-point attempts and had a 38-30 rebound advantage.
 
The Thoroughbreds are back home Jan. 8 at 8 p.m. against RIT
COACH BURKE:
I'm proud of the energy tonight. I thought we came ready to play. Hobart is a very good offensive team and if you don't play hard and together defensively they can really give you problems. We got some contributions from different guys which also helped.

It took two and a half games but I feel like we finally have some rhythm back. There is a long way to go but I thought we took a step in the right direction tonight.