POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Playing in the program's first postseason game since 2023, the sixth-seeded Skidmore College men's basketball team displayed postseason intensity and battled for all 40 minutes, but fell just short in a competitive 67-64 road loss at third-seeded Vassar to bow out in the first round of the Liberty League Tournament on Tuesday evening.

In a game they led for nearly 26 minutes, the Thoroughbreds (13-13) built a game-high nine-point advantage multiple times and appeared in control, but could not withstand a second-half rally from the Brewers (18-8) as the Skidmore's offense went cold at the wrong time, shooting just 9-of-31 in the final 20 minutes.

"There's such a fine line between winning and losing in the playoffs. I thought we battled hard all night, and the guys did a great job executing the game plan, but we came up one or two plays short of pulling this one out. This was a heavyweight fight, and we lost in a close decision," said head coach Joe Burke.

"Experience means a lot when you get to this point, and unfortunately we didn't come in with much. However, my hope is that these returning guys learn from this moment and grow from it, because nothing is guaranteed.

I also want to say how proud I am of this team as a whole. When we lost Jacob [Gooden] a few weeks ago, everybody pretty much wrote us off. These guys responded, got themselves into the playoffs, and became a serious contender. Thank you to our seniors — Charlie Weisberg, who's been a great addition as a transfer and played a key role; Alexander Nunn, who for four years helped this team get better and was so important to our locker room; and Joey Skoric, who continued to develop and played great basketball at the end of his career."

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Thoroughbreds jumped out to a 13-4 lead with 13:06 to go, led by six early points from junior Nick Padilla and capped off by a driving layup from fellow junior Aidan Roy.
• The Brewers responded with a 12-2 run to take first lead of game, 16-15, and jumpstarting a back and forth stretch that included three lead changes and four ties across the next six minutes as Skidmore held a narrow 27-26 lead with 3:15 remaining in the half.
• After a Hakeem Daphnis three and layups from Junior Jack LaGarde and freshman Will Wertz put Skidmore up by eight points, Vassar closed the half strong with two buckets in the final minute to cut the Thoroughbreds lead down to 34-30 heading into the break.
• At halftime, LaGarde led Skidmore's scoring efforts with eight points, while the trio of junior Charlie Fantom, Roy and Padilla each added on with six points apiece. On the defensive end, Skidmore held the Brewers to a subpar 9-of-28 shooting in the field.
• Coming out of intermission, Skidmore rebuilt its lead up to nine points, 49-40, at the 15:20 mark as senior Joey Skoric scored five early second half points.
• However, a 13-3 rally from the Brewers flipped the game and put the Brewers back up, 53-52, with 9:01 to go.
• After Skidmore briefly retook the lead with a pair of Wertz free throws, Vassar strung together six straight points to take their biggest lead of the match, 59-54, with 6:21 left.
• Neither team would score again for a near four-minute span down the stretch before a LaGarde tip-in layup cut the deficit to 62-59 with just 1:19 on the clock.
• After trading free throws in the final minute, the Thoroughbreds had a final shot to tie the game on a last second heave after Vassar bricked a pair of free throws with two seconds remaining.

STANDOUT THOROUGHBREDS

• Skoric recorded a 11-point, 11-rebound double double with four blocks.
• LaGarde finished with 12 points and four rebounds.
• Fantom scored 12 points on four made three-pointers.
• Roy led the team with seven assists in addition to 11 points and four rebounds.