SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—The Skidmore College men's basketball team gave everything it had, but when the dust cleared after three overtimes it was Ithaca College in front 101-99 in an exciting Liberty League contest played in front of a standing room only crowd at the Williamson Sports Center.
 
It was the second overtime game in as many nights for the Thoroughbreds (11-7, 7-5 Liberty) who beat Rensselaer in OT Friday. The Bombers (13-7-9-4) complete the Capital District road sweep after downing Union College on Friday.
 
Skidmore had five players in double figures, led by senior Ty Lamport who scored a game-high 22 points on Senior Day. Greg Skoric had his sixth straight double/double with 19 points and 14 rebounds. Tautvydas Kupstas played 53 minutes, scoring 18 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. Harrison Eichelberger scored 16 points and had 12 rebounds before fouling out. Riley Greene also fouled out, but not before he poured in 15 points and to go along with nine assists.
 
For Ithaca, Logan Wendell came off the bench to score 15 points, including 13 in the overtime periods. Luka Radovich led five players in double figures with 18 points. George Sikoryak scored 16 points and had seven assists.
 
The game featured 20 lead changes and 13 ties.
 
Ithaca's biggest lead of the game came early in the first half with the Bombers up 11-4 with 16:21 to play. Skidmore quickly erased the deficit with a 7-0 run keyed by a Kupstats three and a bucket and two free throws from Skoric. The Thoroughbreds opened a 37-30 lead with 3:08 to play in the half, but the Bombers worked their way back to tie it 40-40 at the half.
 
The second half stayed a one possession game, until Riley Greene started a 9-0 run to put Skidmore up eight 70-62 with 3:51 to play. Riley set up Harrison Eichelberger for a tremendous fast break dunk to close the rally. Ithaca worked its way back, tying the game, 72-72 with three seconds left when Radovich scored off his own offensive rebound. Riley's half court three attempt went off the back of the rim at the buzzer.
 
Wendell was the Ithaca hero in the first overtime. Skoric hit a pair of free throws with :08 left to put Skidmore up 86-83. Wendell then hit a 28-foot three to send the game to a second overtime.
 
In the second OT, Lamport made two free throws with :50 left to tie it 94-94 and send the game to the third OT.
 
In the third OT, Wendell hit a three with :39 left to put the Bombers up 100-99. He hit one of two free throws with :07 left to extend the advantage to 101-99. Skidmore had a chance, but Skoric's jumper rimmed out at the buzzer
"It was a heck of a college basketball game," said Skidmore Coach Joe Burke. "Credit to Ithaca and credit to our guys for putting on a really good show. 
 
"Obviously disappointing result, we as coaches and players have no fingers to point. We just didn't finish the game and had multiple opportunities. This is part of our maturation process and tonight we just didn't close it out.
 
"The positives that we can take from the week heavily outweigh the negatives, we know we can beat anybody out there we just gotta get better at finishing. 
 
"Thank you so much to the crowd. What an awesome atmosphere. We get incredible support from Skidmore and the Saratoga community."
 
It was the final regular-season home game for seniors Lamport and Bobby Stratts who were honored in a pregame ceremony.
 
Skidmore closes out the regular season with five road games, starting Feb. 8 at Union.