SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—Royce Paris scored a career-high 23 points to lead the Skidmore College men's basketball team to a 76-55 win over Vassar College in the Liberty League opener for both teams.
 
The Thoroughbreds improve to 6-3 overall, while the Brewers drop to 4-5.
 
In addition to Paris, Edvinas Rupkus had a double/double with 15 points and 14 (11 defensive) rebounds to go along with five assists. Aldin Medunjanin was the third Skidmore player in double figures with 10 points, four assists, and two steals.
 
Mason Dyslin led Vassar with 22 points.
 
Paris hit a long distance three to open the scoring and put Skidmore in front for good at the 18:52 mark of the first half.
 
Vassar hung with the two-time defending Liberty League champions early, down 20-14 after a Dyslin layup with 6:08 to play.
 
Skidmore's defense held the Brewers to just a pair of free throws the rest of the half, closing the period with a 20-2 run for a 40-16 advantage.
 
Vassar struggled in the half, going 4-27 (14.8%) from the floor, including 1-11 from three-point range.  Skidmore shot 15-28 (53.6%) behind a 6-9 (66.7%) from Paris who scored 15 of his 23 points before the break.
 
Skidmore led by as many as 35 in the second half on the way to the 76-55 win.
 
The Thoroughbreds scored 22 points off 13 Brewer turnovers and had a 43-28 rebound advantage.

"This game is always tough coming out of the break," said Skidmore Coach Joe Burke.  "Offensively, you know it's going to take some time to get a rhythm so it's really important to bring defensive energy. I thought we did a great job of that in the first half which allowed us to get out in front.  We also were able to get a number of guys quality minutes which you need to do with conference games.
 
"We can enjoy this for a couple hours but then must shift our focus to RIT.  They're are very athletic and talented and we will need to play well to get the same result."

Skidmore hosts RIT on Dec. 31 in a rare 12 p.m. start. Vassar travels to Union for a 2 p.m. game.