SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Despite a career-best scoring performance from sophomore Aidan Roy, the Skidmore College men's basketball team came out on the wrong end of a closely-competitive match against RIT, 81-76, at the Williamson Sports Center on Friday evening.

Holding onto a two-point lead with a little over five minutes to go, the Thoroughbreds (4-9, 0-6 Liberty League) were unable to fend off a strong finishing stretch from the Tigers (6-7, 2-4 Liberty League) that began with three consecutive three-pointers to completely shifted the momentum of the game to the visitors.

"Unfortunately, it was the same story on a different night. We just have not been able to string together 40 minutes. We had chances but couldn't put the game away or stop big runs. That has been a problem for us all year," said head coach Joe Burke.

"At the end of the day, we all need to be better and that starts with me. Our league is solid 1- 10, everyone is beatable but at the same time there isn't an easy game on the schedule. Showing flashes is not going to get it done or get us over the hump."

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Both teams traded buckets to start the first half of action, with neither program able to build a lead larger than four points through the first 14 minutes of game time, of which saw a Hakeem Daphnis three-pointer pull the Thoroughbreds to within 21-20 at the 6:10 mark.
• After a quick 10-0 spurt from the Tigers pushed RIT ahead 31-20 with 3:29 to go, Skidmore countered with an 8-3 closing stretch that was led by a pair of high-energy buckets from freshman Fumani Sithole to trail just 34-28 at halftime.
• The Thoroughbreds used a 11-0 scoring run in the early minutes of the second half to complete the turnaround by taking the 40-38 lead at the 14:28 mark after a pair of layups from sophomore Charlie Fantom was followed by consecutive treys from fellow sophomores Roy and Nick Padilla.
• With the game once again up for grab, both programs traded leads for the next six minutes before a Roy three-pointer that was followed by a layup from sophomore Jack LaGarde gave Skidmore a 53-48 lead with 7:10 remaining.
• However, the game would quickly shift the other way as the Tigers mounted a furious 22-6 scoring burst that included three consecutive treys to go up 70-59 with 1:29 to go in the game.
• Despite Roy scoring nine of his 20 second-half points in the final minute of gametime alone, the Thoroughbreds were unable to pull off the miracle comeback bid as RIT hit efficiently from the foul line.

STANDOUT THOROUGHBREDS

• Scoring 20 of his game-high 27 points in the second half, Roy finished the game shooting 10-of-22 from the field (6-of-11 from three) and dished out four assists to go with five rebounds.
• Padilla scored an uber-efficient 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting off the bench and assisted on three other shots.
• Daphnis and Fantom finished with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
• The bigmen duo of LaGarde and junior Joey Skoric each recorded double-digit rebounds, with the sophomore recording a game-high 11 while Skoric pulled in 10 of his own.

UP NEXT
The Thoroughbreds look to bounce back tomorrow afternoon by hosting Hobart for a 4 PM clash at the Williamson Sports Center.