SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—There will be a new Liberty League men's basketball champion for the first time in three years after fourth seed Hobart College downed top seed Skidmore College 70-65 in a league semifinal game Wednesday night at the Williamson Center.
 
The Statesmen (16-10) will play third seed Union College on Saturday in Schenectady for the Liberty League title.
 
Edvinas Rupkus led the Thoroughbreds (19-7) with 19 points. Royce Paris came off the bench to add 16 points, while Aldin Medunjanin had a double/double with 12 points and 10 rebounds to go along with five assists, two steals, and two blocks. Jack Morrow hit four threes to finish with 12 points.
 
Colin Dougherty led Hobart with 26 points. Tucker Lescoe (12) and Pete Drescher (10) hit double figures.  Luke Ruddy had seven points and a game-high 12 rebounds, including six of his team's 17 offensive boards.
 
The Statesmen led 30-27 after a tight and physical first half that saw seven lead changes and five ties.
 
Hobart kept Skidmore off the board for the first 5:11 of the second half, using an 11-0 run to open up a 41-27 lead. Dougherty accounted for seven of the 11 points, six coming a pair of deep threes.
 
Paris hit a clutch three to end the Statesmen run with 14:49 to play, but Dougherty responded on the other end with another downtown three and a 44-30 lead.
 
The Thoroughbreds scratched and clawed their way back into the game, finally getting to within two, 61-59 with 1:28 to play on a pair of Rupkus free throws. Hobart answered with a key three from Pete Drescher and then went six for six from the line to preserve the win.
 
" I am incredibly proud of this team," said Skidmore coach Joe Burke. "I have never coached group that has accomplished so much while overcoming so many obstacles.  Tonight just was not our night. Hobart played great and they were the better team. Hats off to them.
 
"Unfortunately our hope of playing another day now rest with the NCAA committee. I know this team is deserving of an NCAA berth I just hope they see it the way we do.  I think if you look at our losses and the timing with our injuries and then you look at the quality of wins we have we are deserving.  We went out and challenged ourselves in the nonleague and then went 14-2 in a league that will have 4 teams regionally ranked. Regardless, we are a team that's finally getting healthy and if we are chosen I know we will represent very well."
 
The NCAA field will be announced Monday.