SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – It was a tale of timely shots dropping when it hurt most as the Skidmore College men's basketball team couldn't overcome a red-hot shooting display from Bard to ultimately lose 85-70 at the Williamson Sports Center on Friday evening.

Falling behind by double-digits entering halftime, the Thoroughbreds (5-11, 1-8 Liberty League) attempted to mount an extensive second half comeback in which the home team managed to cut the deficit down to single digits multiple times, however, an inability to contain timely Raptors (9-7, 4-5 Liberty League) three-pointers proved to be the difference maker as the road team ultimately pulled away down the final stretch.

"Have to give all the credit to Bard. They start three graduate students and two seniors and they made us look young tonight in every aspect of the game. Our message to the guys was how we have to be relentless to beat a veteran team like that and I didn't think we brought enough energy and focus," said head coach Joe Burke. 

"Another part of our growth is learning how to handle success. We played a great all-around game on Tuesday and made a lot of shots from all over the court. I thought that got in our head in the first half and we settled way too much instead of attacking the rim. We need to tip our hat and move on to get ready for another veteran, talented team in Ithaca tomorrow."

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Skidmore duo of sophomore Charlie Fantom and junior Charlie Weisberg combined for all of the first 16 points scored by the home team as the Thoroughbreds found themselves down 28-16 at the 5:19 mark of the half. Both teams went scoreless during an extensive three-minute span during the stretch.
• Despite multiple scoring efforts, the Thoroughbreds were unable to trim the deficit down as the home team entered halftime in a 38-25 deficit. Fantom led all scorers with a dozen points on four made three-pointers.
• Coming out of the second half, Skidmore came out firing with a quick 6-0 burst to cut the lead down to seven points, but the run wasn't sustained as the Raptors answered back with an 13-2 run to quickly push the lead to as high as 18 points, 51-33, at the 14:44 mark.
• Fighting through the large second half deficit, the Thoroughbreds' efforts looked to have paid off when the team managed to cut the deficit down to single digits on a couple instances, first at the 8:26 mark off a made Joey Skoric three-pointer to pull within nine points, 64-55, which was followed by a pair of Raptors free throws, before a Jack LaGarde layup with 7:35 to go once again cut it to nine, 66-57.
• However, that proved the closest Skidmore would get as Bard would immediately go on an offensive spurt that included a pair of back-breaking three-pointers that sandwiched a made layup to go back up by 15 points, 74-59, with 5:10 to go. The sequence halted any potential momentum for the Thoroughbreds and allowed the road team to ultimately seal the victory.

STANDOUT THOROUGHBREDS

• Fantom and junior Joey Skoric each finished with a team-high 16 points. Skoric also ended with a monster 20-rebound performance in addition to four blocks with a steal.
• Weisberg finished with 11 points off the bench to go with four rebounds and a steal.
• LaGarde finished his night with six rebounds, four points, four assists and two steals in 19 minutes off the bench.

UP NEXT
The Thoroughbreds are back in the Williamson Sports Center tomorrow afternoon by hosting Ithaca in a 4 PM matchup on Alumni Day.