SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—The Williamson Center will be the site of this weekend's Liberty League Men's Basketball Championship Tournament.
 
Skidmore is seeded first and will take on fourth seed Ithaca College on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Hobart (third) and St. Lawrence (second) play in the first semifinal at 2 p.m.  The championship game is set for Sunday at 2 p.m. There is no admission charge.
 
The Teams
 
Skidmore (17-7, 15-3 Liberty League)
 
Tournament History: The Thoroughbreds are playing in their 10th straight semifinal. Skidmore lost to Union in the 2018 championship game at Hobart after beating the Statesmen 63-60 in the semifinals and Ithaca 68-62 in the quarterfinals. Union did not make this year's tournament. The Thoroughbreds won titles in 2011, 2012, 2015, and 2016.
 
The Season: Skidmore has won five straight and nine of its last 10. The streak includes a 94-62 loss at Ithaca, a 79-71 road win at Hobart, and a regular-season final 65-54 overtime win against St. Lawrence. The Thoroughbreds are 10-2 at home with the lone league loss coming at the hands of Hobart on Jan. 12 (64-52).
 
2018-19 (4-2 vs. field)
1/12    Hobart 64      at Skidmore 52
2/8      Skidmore 79  at Hobart       71
1/19    Ithaca 66        at Skidmore  75
2/1      Skidmore 62  at Ithaca         94
11/30  Skidmore 83  at SLU            67
2/16    SLU 54           at Skidmore  65 OT
 
The Players: The one-two punch of senior All-American Edvinas Rupkus and sophomore Noah Meren have provided the offense. Rupkus is the program's all-time leading scorer and one of only 11 active players in all three divisions with 2000+ career points (2057) and  600+ rebounds (680). He's averaging 16.8 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, while shooting .863 from the line. Meren is hitting for 21.0 points to go along with 6.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.9 steals.  Senior guard Chase Ta leads the league assist/turnover ratio (2.31) and second in assists (4.7). Freshmen forwards Greg Skoric 7.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.3 bpg) and Ryan Murunge (4.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg) have given the team needed size inside.
 
St. Lawrence (16-9, 13-5)
 
Tournament History: The Saints are looking for their third title and first since 2010. SLU lost to Skidmore in the 2015 championship game 72-68.  The Saints last tournament game was a wild 110-108 loss to Union College in a 2017 quarterfinal.
 
The Season: After a 2-4 start, the Saints won nine of 10, including six straight to move to the top of the Liberty League. Season ending losses to RPI and Skidmore dropped the team to second for the playoffs.
 
2018-19 (4-2 vs. field)
11/30  Skidmore 83  at SLU            67
2/16    SLU 54           at Skidmore  65 OT
1/11    SLU 72           at Ithaca         71
2/9      Ithaca 72        at SLU            84
1/22    SLU 73           at Hobart       72
2/1      Hobart 58      at SLU            72
 
The Players: The Saints couldn't have been happier to have all-conference standout Riley Naclerio return to the line-up for a fifth year after a season-ending injury last year. He's averaging 14.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 1.8 assists and 1.0 steals. Ben Crawford (11.9 ppg, 8.8 rpg) and freshman Luke Hicks (10.7 ppg, 3.6 apg) give SLU a triple threat.
 
Hobart (16-10, 12-6)
 
Tournament History: Hobart has won three championships and played in four of the last seven championship games. The Statesmen and Skidmore have split the last eight regular season titles. Hobart lost at home to Skidmore in the 2018 semifinals, 63-60, after beating the Thoroughbreds in 2017 semifinals at the Williamson Center.
 
The Season: The Statesmen shook off a 2-4 start to open 9-3 in Liberty League play. Hobart won three of its final four league games, the lone loss a 104-101 double-overtime decision at Vassar.
 
2018-19 (2-4 vs. Field)
1/22    SLU 73           at Hobart       72
2/1      Hobart 58      at SLU            72
1/12    Hobart 64      at Skidmore 52
2/8      Skidmore 79  at Hobart       71
1/5      Ithaca 89        at Hobart       86
1/25    Hobart 92      at Ithaca         81                              
 
The Players: Colin Dougherty leads a balanced Hobart offense that has four players scoring in double figures. Dougherty is scoring 17.9 points per game to go along with 5.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists. Jamal Lucas (15.0 ppg), Tucker Lescoe (13.2 ppg, 2.8 apg), and Edens Fleurizard (10.0 ppg, 7.6 rpg) are all over 10 points per game. Lescoe enters Saturday's game with 999 career points.
 
Ithaca (16-10, 11-7)
 
Tournament History: In its second Liberty League season, the Bombers are making their first trip to the semifinals. Ithaca lost 68-62 to Skidmore last season in the quarterfinal.
 
The Season: Ithaca has finished strong, winning eight of its last nine games, including a lopsided 94-62 over top seed Skidmore on Feb. 1. The Bombers also have an 85-70 non-conference win over 13th ranked Rochester.
 
2018-19 (2-4 vs. Field)
1/5      Ithaca 89        at Hobart       86
1/25    Hobart 92      at Ithaca         81       
1/11    SLU 72           at Ithaca         71
2/9      Ithaca 72        at SLU            84
1/19    Ithaca 66        at Skidmore  75
2/1      Skidmore 62  at Ithaca         94
 
The Players: Ithaca has its own 1-2 punch with Riley Thompson (17.7 ppg, .864 FT%) and Sebastian Alderete (16.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg). Peter Ezema (14.4ppg, 8.8 rpg) gives the Bombers a third threat. Ithaca owns the league's top offense with 82.7 ppg.