SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A big test greets the Skidmore College men's basketball team on Friday, as the No. 16 Thoroughbreds host No. 2 Middlebury at the Williamson Sports Center in the first game of a basketball doubleheader at 6 p.m.
 
Admission to the game is free. Live stats and video will also be available for Friday night's contest.
 
Skidmore and Middlebury, both ranked in the latest d3hoops.com national rankings, come into the game undefeated through the early part of the season. The Panthers are the highest-ranked opponent to visit the Williamson Sports Center since Dec. 9, 2011, when Middlebury came in as the No. 1 team in the nation. In that contest, an unranked Skidmore team tussled with the Panthers, with Middlebury coming out on top in a 64-59 victory.
 
The Thoroughbreds (6-0, 2-0 Liberty League) are off to their best start in program history after winning three games last week. Skidmore defeated Worcester State 83-67 last Tuesday, before beginning league play with an 81-56 win on Friday against St. Lawrence and a 77-60 win against Clarkson on Saturday. Skidmore has defeated opponents by an average margin of 17.5 points, a mark that is 19^th in the country. The Thoroughbreds also lead the Liberty League in scoring offense (85.7 points per game), field goal percentage (.489), and free throw percentage (.772).
 
Guard Edvinas Rupkus leads the team in scoring with 22.3 points per game. He also leads the team in rebounding (8.8) and 3-point shooting (.517). Forward Dakpe Yiljep is second in scoring with 17.7 points and is shooting a solid 86 percent from the free throw line. Wing player Pat Gallagher has been solid for the Thoroughbreds off the bench, chipping in 10.2 points on a scorching 63 percent shooting from the field. Guards Jack Morrow (.458) and Jack Byrne (.417) are solid shooters from the 3-point line. Chase Ta paces the Skidmore offense as the lead guard. He is 13^th among all Division III players with 6.3 assists per game.
 
Middlebury comes in with a 5-0 record, after defeating Plattsburgh by a 92-68 score on home court Tuesday night. Plattsburgh is a common opponent for the Thoroughbreds, who defeated the Cardinals 88-62 in their home opener on Nov. 20.
 
The Panthers have a solid inside-outside game, led by guard Jack Daly and forward Matt Folger. Daly leads the team in scoring, averaging 18.4 points per game, and rebounds, at 11.0 He leads Division III in assists with 8.8 helpers per game. Matt Folger is second on the team with 16.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.
 
Last season, the Thoroughbreds shook off an early shooting slump against the Panthers, rallying to take a late lead against the hosts. However, a late basket by Middlebury, followed by a game-winning block on the Thoroughbreds last possession, gave the hosts a narrow 72-71 victory on Dec. 10. The home team has won the last pair of games in the all-time series.