SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Sophomore guard Noah Meren of the Skidmore College men's basketball team completed a three-point play with 5.8 seconds left in regulation, capping an impressive 12-point, second-half comeback as the Thoroughbreds defeated Worcester State 69-68, at the Williamson Sports Center Wednesday night.
 
Skidmore wins its third straight game to improve to 4-2, while Worcester State falls to 4-5.
 
It seemed all but over for the Thoroughbreds, down 12 points with 7:16 left in the second half and down six (68-62) with just 19 seconds left. Instead of fouling, Skidmore allowed Worcester State's Shaun McCarthy to take a jumper that missed the mark with Meren skying for the rebound. He was fouled on the attempt and made two free throws to reduce the deficit to 68-64 with 16 seconds left.
 
The Thoroughbreds immediately fouled on the ensuing inbounds pass, sending Tyler Dion to the line for the one-and-one. Dion was previously a perfect 17-for-17 from the line this season. In perhaps a stroke of luck, Dion missed the front end, and senior forward Dakpe Yiljep grabbed the rebound as Skidmore raced up the court with 14 seconds left. On the ensuing possession, senior guard Chase Ta found a cutting Pat Gallagher with a nifty pass, as the junior forward converted on the layup while getting fouled as the Skidmore deficit shrunk to 68-66 with nine seconds left.
 
With a chance to bring the deficit to one, Gallagher missed the ensuing free throw, but the ball was tipped in the paint before Meren grabbed possession. He went up and banked in the game-tying layup while getting fouled, sending the fans into hysterics. He would convert on the three-point play, giving Skidmore its second lead of the half (69-68) with 5.8 seconds left.
 
Worcester State had a chance to win the game on a well scripted play, but the corner 3-point attempt by Will Watkins Jr. was on line but fell short as the Thoroughbreds erupted in celebration.
 
Meren tallied 15 second-half points to finish with a game-high 19 points, adding eight rebounds, two assists, and two blocked shots. Senior guard Edvinas Rupkus also finished with a game-high 19 points, adding two assists and three rebounds. Yiljep was impressive on the boards, earning his first double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Gallagher came up clutch coming off the bench, adding 10 points and four rebounds.
 
Watkins, Jr. led Worcester State with 16 points, going 4-for-7 from 3-point range. McCarthy added 14 points.
 
"First, I tip my hat to Worcester," said Skidmore head coach Joe Burke. "I thought they came here outplaying and out-coaching us. That being said, I am proud of my guys for hanging in there. Things certainly were not going our way but we never stopped playing hard and we were able to make some plays at the end that proved to be the difference.  We are far from a finished product. We need to get back to work tomorrow because we have a long way to go to be the best team we can be."
 
The game see-sawed for the early part of the first half before a Ta jumper gave Skidmore its biggest lead of the game at 15-9. The Lancers closed the gap, but five straight points by Gallagher brought Skidmore's lead back to six (20-14) at the 12-minute mark. From there, Worcester State would once again chip away at the lead, taking a 26-23 lead on consecutive 3-pointers by Watkins, Jr.
 
Rupkus would tie the game on two separate occasions (26-26 and 28-28) and would eventually give Skidmore a 31-30 lead off a made 3-pointer with 3:32 to go in the half. Watkins, Jr. later scored on a put-back with 1:03 left, giving the Lancers a 32-31 lead heading into halftime.
 
Freshman center Greg Skoric began the half with two made free throws, giving Skidmore a brief 33-32 lead, before Worcester State took the lead on the next possession on a Cal Howes trey. The Lancers would slowly grow its lead over the next 12 minutes, stretching it to as many as 12 points (61-49) with 7:16 remaining in regulation. A Rupkus 3-pointer and a Skoric layup off a deft Gallagher pass began the comeback as Skidmore went on an 11-4 spurt.
 
With just under two minutes remaining in the game and Worcester State leading 65-60, Watkins, Jr. hit what looked to be a back-breaking 3-pointer, stretching the lead back to eight. Meren would score on the other end with a driving layup with 1:35 remaining, reducing the deficit to 68-62 and sowing the seeds for a Thoroughbred comeback.
 
Skidmore out-rebounded Worcester State by a 39-30 margin, including 14 crucial offensive rebounds for 18 second-chance points.
 
The Thoroughbreds will continue its non-conference swing this weekend, making the trip to No. 18 Middlebury on Saturday for a 4 p.m. game.