PLATTSBURGH, NY – The Skidmore College men's basketball team came up short in the season opener on the road at Plattsburgh, falling by a final margin of 70-58 on Friday evening.

While the Thoroughbreds (0-1) grabbed 40 boards and was active defensively by racking up eight steals with five blocks as a unit, costly turnovers and foul issues which gave the Cardinals (1-0) 26 free throws as a team proved to be the difference maker. Offensively, the sophomore duo of Charlie Fantom and Aidan Roy combined for 30 points in a valiant effort to keep the green and yellow in striking distance for most of the game.  

"Felt like we just couldn't get over the hump tonight. There were moments in the game where we needed to hit a big shot, or get a big stop and we didn't get that done," said head coach Joe Burke.

Credit Plattsburgh, they were better tonight. They are a veteran, physical team and you can see that on the foul shot disparity, our live ball turnovers the amount of block shots they had. We need to get better, stronger and tougher at the rim. This was a good early test that we need to get better from."

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After a defensive battle saw a 7-6 Plattburgh lead and just 13 combined points after eight minutes of play, the Cardinals went on an 12-4 run in the following two minutes to force a Skidmore timeout and lead 19-10 at the 8:24 mark of the half.  
• Coming out of the time, Fantom hit a quick three and fellow sophomore Hakeem Daphnis added on consecutive jumpers to give the Thoroughbreds offense some much needed life.
• When the Cardinals jumped back ahead to a 29-21 lead, it was Roy who kept the Thoroughbreds in contact by scoring six straight Skidmore points to pull the team within a four-point deficit, 31-27, at the 3:23 mark of the first half.
• However, Plattsburgh closed out the quarter on an 8-2 run the rest of the way that included hitting a buzzer-beating three pointer to put the Thoroughbreds in a 39-29 deficit.
• Sophomore Jack LaGarde scored the first basket of the second half on a layup that cut the Skidmore deficit to single digits at the 18:20 mark, but that proved to be the closest the Thoroughbreds would get for most of the half as the Cardinals shut down potential Skidmore runs with timely buckets.
• The Thoroughbreds made one final gasp, by cutting the lead down to nine, 64-55, with 2:49 left following a pair of made buckets from senior Jake Walsh and two made free throws from Fantom.
• But that was the closest the road team would get as Plattburgh promptly scored six straight points to put the game away.

STANDOUT THOROUGHBREDS

• Fantom and Roy each finished with a team-high 15 points and logged eight total boards and three combined steals
• Downie grabbed a team-best 11 boards on the night to go with a block and two steals
• Daphnis dished out a team-high four assists alongside dropping nine points

UP NEXT
The Thoroughbreds will host the home opener on Monday against Regis. Tip off at the Williamson Sports Center is set for 7 PM.