Box Score

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Senior Travis Jones scored a career-high 27 points, but the Rensselaer men's basketball team fell to Skidmore, 81-77. With the win, the Thoroughbreds improve to 11-7 overall and 5-2 in the Liberty League. The Engineers move to 10-8 overall, including a 4-3 mark in league play.

In the first half, Skidmore raced out to a 9-1 lead and led by as many as 12 after a layup from Terron Victoria (Albany, N.Y./Bishop Maginn). RPI fought back though and cut the lead down to one on a Jones jumper with 34 seconds remaining in the half, but the Thoroughbreds answered back as Victoria hit a three-pointer from the corner to beat the clock and give Skidmore a 37-33 lead heading into the half.

Jones came out and scored the first five points of the second half to give the Engineers a one-point lead but unfortunately for RPI, it would be their only lead of the contest as the Thoroughbreds came right back with a 10-2 run to push the lead back up to nine. The Engineers hung tough and got within one at 59-58 on a pair of free throws from #DJ Blakemore with 6:30 remaining. The Thoroughbreds shot 5-of-8 from the floor and 10-for-10 from the line over the final 6:30 to put away RPI and earn an 81-77 victory.

Brian Lowry (West Hartford, Conn.) came off the bench to lead Skidmore in scoring for the second straight game, scoring 19 on 4-of-8 shooting from the floor and 8-of-8 shooting from the line. Gerard O'Shea (West Sand Lake, N.Y./Averill Park) had 14 points and a game-high six assist and Quenten Howard (New Haven, Conn.) and Victoria chipped in with 12 and 10, respectively.

Jones led the way for the Engineers, scoring 27 off the bench on 10-of-17 shooting. Blakemore added 14 points and Matthew Pooly chipped in with 10.

The Thoroughbreds scored 25 points off 19 RPI turnovers and had 19 assists on 26 made baskets.

The Engineers return to action next weekend, when they visit North Country-rivals Clarkson and St. Lawrence.