SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—Skidmore used a stifling defense to win its fourth straight game, 63-46 over Clarkson University Friday night at the Williamson Center.
 
The game was a tune-up for Saturday's winner-take-all contest against St. Lawrence. The 4 p.m. Big Green Scream match-up will decide the Liberty League regular season champion and host of the league's semifinal and championship games.
 
The Thoroughbreds are 16-7 overall and 14-3 in league play. The Saints are one game back at 16-8 and 13-4, but hold the tiebreaker advantage.
 
Edvinas Rupkus scored 15 points to go along with three assists, and three steals. The all-American was honored in a pregame ceremony for scoring his 2000 point on the road Feb. 8 at Hobart. His parents surprised him, traveling from Lithuania to catch their first Skidmore games.
 
Noah Meren hit for a game-high 19 points, complimented by eight rebounds. Jack Byrne Scored 10 off the bench and Chase Ta had seven points and four assists.
 

Clarkson (6-18, 5-12) didn't have a player in double figures. Reese Swedberg and Matt Higgins scored nine each. Higgins added seven rebounds and two steals.
 
Skidmore scored the game's first five and never looked back, leading the entire game. Greg Skoric opened the scoring with a dunk and Meren scored the team's next five points for a quick 7-2 lead. The Thoroughbreds extended the advantage to 20 points, 29-9 on a Meren three with 4:42 to play in the half. Clarkson battled back, using a 14-4 run to close out the half within 10, 33-23. Jake Purdy capped the run with a well executed bucket at the buzzer.
 
Skidmore came out of the break hard, using a seven points (five from Meren) to go back in front by 17, 40-23. The Golden Knights were unable to get an closer than 12 points the rest of the way.
 
The Thoroughbreds scored 23 points off 15 Clarkson turnovers and held the Golden Knights to 18-56 (32.1%) from the floor, including 4-24 (16.7%) from three-point range.
 
"I'm proud of the energy and execution on the defensive end," said Skidmore coach Joe Burke.  "Clarkson is well coached and tough to guard. You have to be committed to the plan and I thought our guys did a good job with that.
 
"Tomorrow should be a great atmosphere and it will be such a special moment to celebrate five seniors that have given so much to this program."
 
Saturday's Big Green Scream/Senior Day will feature free t-shirts to the first 250 fans at both the men's and women's games. There will also be other giveaways, including a smart TV, $100 Skidmore Shop Gift Cards, and several Saratoga Springs Downtown Gift Cards.