Box Score TROY, N.Y. - Skidmore College shot 76 percent from the floor in the first half, including 64.3 percent from three-point range, to take a 51-27 lead at halftime on the way to an 82-61 win over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 82-61, in a Liberty League contest at East Campus Arena.
 
Skidmore improves to 12-5 overall and 7-1 in the conference, while the Engineers fall to 10-7 and 4-4. The win avenges a 69-66 loss to RPI on Jan. 7.
 
Aldin Medunjanin led all scorers with 19 points (8 of 11) with four rebounds and four assists, while Edvinas Rupkus had 18 points and four rebounds. Medunjanin became the fourth Skidmore player to reach the 1500 career point mark. He sits third on the all-time scoring list with 1510 points.
 
Jack Byrne added 13 points, Chase Ta had 11 and Pat Gallagher scored 10 for the Thoroughbreds, who shot 65.2 percent (30 of 46) with 13 three-pointers (13 of 22).
 
For RPI, Jonathan Luster had 16 points on 7 of 9 shooting with four rebounds. Andreas Kontopidis had 12 points and Tom Horvat tallied 10.
 
The Thoroughbreds scored eight of the first 10 points and 20 of the first 27 - 15 on five made three-pointers - to take an early lead they would not relinquish. Rupkus had eight points in that stretch and finished with 15 first half points on 6 of 7 shooting. 
 
A three-pointer from Kontopidis made it 20-10, but Medunjanin scored five straight points and Gallagher added two free throws for a 27-10 lead at the 11:31 mark. The Thoroughbreds used an 11-1 run five minutes later for a 41-14 lead.
 
Skidmore missed just one shot from inside the three-point arc in the first 20 minutes and went 4 of 5 from the free throw line. The Thoroughbreds had eight assists on 19 made shots and caused eight turnovers. RPI was 10 of 20 from the field in the first half with four three-pointers, and 3 of 6 from the foul line. The Engineers had six assists.
 
Skidmore continued its torrid shooting to start the second half, scoring the first nine points of the frame for a 60-27 lead. Ta had a pair of layups and three others made baskets in the first 2:14.
 
RPI then put together a 12-3 stretch, including two three-point baskets from Horvat, but the Thoroughbreds scored 11 of the next 16 points and led 74-44 with 8:46 remaining.

"Every once in awhile as a coach you get to sit back and just enjoy watching your team  play," said Skidmore coach Joe Burke. "Tonight was one of those nights for our staff. I thought the guys were dialed in on this one all week and we saw that tonight.  Shooting 65% doesn't happen very often but I am more proud of the quality of the shot we were attempting. I think our defense will get overlooked, but I was pleased with how engaged we were. Their offense is hard to guard if you don't bring energy but we brought it tonight.

"Lastly, congrats to Aldin. 1500 points is a terrific accomplishment. He has been a rock for us and deserves every accolade he receives."

Skidmore hosts Bard on Saturday at 4 p.m.