SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—The Skidmore College men's basketball team overcame a 15-point first-half deficit in a 75-68 Liberty League win over RIT Friday night at the Williamson Sports Center.
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The win evens the team's Liberty League record at 4-4, while moving its overall record to 8-6. The Tigers are 6-9 and 4-5.
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Greg Skoric scored a game-high 20 points to go along with 19 rebounds, two assists, and three blocks.
Tautvydas Kupstas hit for 17 points and
Harrison Eichelberger chipped in 13.
Ty Lamport scored nine points to go along with six assists and five steals.
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Matt Caggiano led RIT 14 points and Andrew Fox had 10. Both off the RIT bench that outscored Skidmore 42-7.
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The Tigers threatened to blow the game open in the first half, building a 31-16 lead with 5:26 to play. Skidmore battled back, closing the half with a 16-6 run to cut it to 37-32.
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Down 43-41 with 13:59 to play, the 6-11 Skoric drilled a three-pointer to start an 18-0 run that put the Thoroughbreds in front 59-43 with 10:50 left. The run included an ill-timed RIT dead ball technical that turned into a four-point play for Skidmore. Kupstas nine points in the run, including seven straight.
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The Tigers responded with a 14-2 run of their own to get within four, 61-57 with 6:42 to play. The game stayed close, until Skidmore pushed the lead back to 10, 73-63 with :40 left on the way to the 75-68 final.
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"Proud of how the guys hung in there and stuck to the game plan," said Skidmore coach
Joe Burke. "We just didn't make shots that we normally make in the first half and got down. We kept fighting and were able slowly get back in the game by halftime. The first 10 minutes of the second half was Skidmore Basketball and the best we have played since we were all together early in the season. I hope we can build on it."
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Skidmore hosts Union on Saturday at 4 p.m.
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