GENEVA, N.Y. – Sophomore guard Edvinas Rupkus scored with eight seconds remaining in regulation, propelling the Skidmore College men's basketball team to a thrilling 70-69 victory over Hobart in Liberty League action on Saturday.
 
Down one with the ball, senior guard Aldin Medunjanin, dribbling on the right wing, found a cutting Rupkus for the easy layup with 8.4 seconds left. On the ensuing possession, Hobart forward Matt Walsh had a chance to win it from the top of the key, but his shot just missed, hitting the side of the rim as the Skidmore players celebrated.
 
Medunjanin led the Thoroughbreds with 24 points on 6-for-13 shooting from the field, adding eight assists. Rupkus scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half, shooting an efficient 5-for-7 from the field. Sophomore guard Chase Ta added 13 points, all in the first half, shooting 5-for-8 from the field.
 
Guard Colin Doughterty led the Statesmen with 24 points and nine rebounds. Guard Jamal Lucas added 16 points, while guard Tucker Lescoe added 14 points and four rebounds.
 
The Thoroughbreds came out firing from the field, shooting 60.9 percent from the field in the first half. After leading by as many as 14 in the opening half, Hobart clawed back at the deficit, going on a 10-2 run to end the half. Doughterty capped things off with a 3-pointer that just beat the halftime buzzer, as Skidmore entered halftime with a 38-32 lead.
 
Hobart completed the comeback, taking its first lead of the game at 46-45 after a Lucas 3-pointer. From there, the lead went back-and-forth between the two teams. Free throws were critical down the stretch, and Skidmore made 9-of-10 free throws in the final 5:16 of regulation to stay in the game.
 
Hobart took its final lead of the game on a Dougherty jumper with 1:19 to go, and Skidmore missed on the other end. Undeterred, the Thoroughbred defense forced a shot clock violation, getting the ball back with 21 seconds left to set up Rupkus' game-winner.
 
Skidmore outshot Hobart in the victory, shooting 48.9 percent from the field, went 19-for-23 from the charity stripe. The Statesmen shot 43 percent, and went 7-for-12 from the free throw line. Skidmore won despite being outrebounded by Hobart, 35-24.
 
The Thoroughbreds will wrap up their four-game road trip on Friday, taking on Rensselaer in Troy, N.Y. at 6 p.m.