SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—The top-seed and defending champion Skidmore College men's basketball team will be playing for its fourth Liberty League title in six years when it hosts third-seed St. Lawrence University on Saturday at 4 p.m.
Skidmore advanced to the championship game with an 82-71 win over Vassar. The Saints posted a mild 91-85 upset of Union College. The teams split regular season games, with SLU winning 69-53 on Jan. 2 in Canton and the Thoroughbreds taking the second game, 73-70 on Feb. 21.
Skidmore (17-8) has gotten hot at the right time, taking a five-game win streak into Saturday's game. The Thoroughbreds have won 10 of their last 12.
Freshman
Edvinas Rupkus continues to lead the team in scoring with 16.5 points per game. He also averages 5.4 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.9 assists, while shooting a lofty .546 from the floor.
Erik Sanders contributes a steady 15.8 points per game and team-high 5.7 rebounds.
Other probable starters are freshmen
Jack Byrne (6.6 ppg) and
Chase Ta (3.7 ppg) and sophomore
Marcus Jackson (3.2 ppg).
Royce Paris (8.7 ppg) and
Nick Volpe (3.0 ppg) are first off the bench.
Kyle Edwards (15.0 ppg, 3.1 apg) leads a St. Lawrence squad that relies heavily on its starting five. Riley Nacierio (11.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg), Willie Zachery (11.0 ppg, 3.3 apg), and Ben Crawford (10.8 ppg) are all scoring in double figures. Kyle Kobis is the fifth starter at 8.2 ppg.
The winner will represent the Liberty League in the NCAA Division III tournament that begins with first round games March 3-4. The 62-team tournament field will be announced on Feb. 29 at 12:30 p.m.
