Skidmore (17-6, 12-2 Liberty) at St. Lawrence (20-4, 13-2 Liberty)
Game Details: Friday, Feb. 17 | 8 p.m.
Location: Canton, N.Y. – Ronald T. Burkman Gymnasium
Game Links: Stats
Skidmore: Roster |
Stats
St. Lawrence: Roster |
Stats
Skidmore (17-6, 12-2 Liberty) vs. Clarkson (12-12, 7-8 Liberty)
Game Details: Sunday, Feb. 19 | 4 p.m.
Location: Saratoga Springs, N.Y. – Williamson Sports Center
Game Links: Stats |
Video
Skidmore: Roster |
Stats
Clarkson: Roster |
Stats
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A Liberty League regular season title will be on the line this weekend as the Skidmore College men's basketball team wraps up the regular season. The Thoroughbreds will take on league leader St. Lawrence in Canton, N.Y. on Friday at 8 p.m., then wrap up the season at home against Clarkson on Sunday at 4 p.m.
The Thoroughbreds (17-6, 12-2 Liberty League) currently sit a half-game back of first-place St. Lawrence with a win already in hand against the Saints. Skidmore defeated St. Lawrence 83-66 in Saratoga Springs on Jan. 24. With a victory on Friday, the Thoroughbreds will win the regular season title for the third year in a row. The team has already clinched a home semifinal game, which will take place on Wednesday, with time and opponent to be determined. Nationally, the Thoroughbreds are sixth in the East region, according to the latest regional rankings.
Skidmore went 2-0 last weekend, first edging Hobart 87-83 in front of a packed Big Green Scream crowd on Friday, then coming back from a double-digit halftime deficit, defeating Union 88-78 on Saturday.
Aldin Medunjanin was named as the Liberty League's Performer of the Week for his efforts in the two games, averaging 14.5 points, 10 rebounds, 8.5 assists, and two steals, all while shooting 56 percent from the field.
In Sunday's season finale against Clarkson, Medunjanin, along with fellow seniors
Royce Paris and
Tyler Victoria, will be honored prior to tip off. The trio is one of the winningest classes in Skidmore men's basketball history, as they were a part of 87 victories, two Liberty League titles, and two trips to the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament, advancing to the second round in both 2015 and 2016.
St. Lawrence (20-4, 13-2 Liberty League) currently leads the league by a half game over Skidmore, after a 93-87 victory over rival Clarkson on Wednesday. The matchup against Skidmore will be their season finale.
The Saints come into the matchup as winners of four straight and six of the last seven games. They are also a perfect 11-0 on home court, and are second in the East region, according to the latest rankings.
Riley Naclerio leads the Saints, averaging 18.3 points per game, and is third in the league with a .515 shooting percentage from the field. Kyle Edwards is second on the team with 16.2 points per game, shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc. Willie Zachery is third with 12.5 points per game, and Ben Crawford rounds out the double-digit scorers with 11.2 per game.
Clarkson will come into the season finale on Sunday with a 12-12 record and a 7-8 record in league play. The Golden Knights have lost the last two contests, against league opponents Vassar and St. Lawrence.
Derek Hart is one of the league's most efficient shooters. He currently leads the league and is ninth in all of Division III, shooting an impressive 64 percent from the field. He also leads the league with 22 points per game. Drew Zlogar is second among Clarkson players in scoring, averaging 15.1 points and 7.5 rebounds.
The last time the two teams met was on Jan. 10 in Potsdam, N.Y.
Edvinas Rupkus tallied 23 points and nine rebounds to lead Skidmore to a 77-69 victory.