GENEVA, N.Y.—A late basket by Edvinus Rupkus lifted Skidmore College to a 70-69 victory over Hobart College in Bristol Gym this afternoon. The Thoroughbreds improved to 11-5 overall, 6-1 in the Liberty League, while the Statesmen slipped to 8-6, 3-2.
 
A back-and-forth game that featured 10 lead changes and nine ties saw Hobart take a 69-68 lead on a jumper by sophomore guard Colin Dougherty with just over a minute remaining. The Statesmen got a stop on the defensive end of the floor, but committed a shot clock violation, leaving Skidmore about 21 seconds to work with.
 
Rupkus' game-winning layup was set up by a baseline drive by Aldin Medunjanin. He had a team-high 24 points going into the play, but this time he logged the last of his game-high eight assists, as Rupkus was open under the basket. He finished with 17 points.
 
Hobart got off two shots in the final eight seconds, but missed a driving, contested layup, and had a 3-point try at the buzzer hit off the back of the rim.
 
Skidmore scored 11 unanswered points in the first half to build the biggest lead of the game for either side. Chase Ta finished off the run with a 3-pointer that gave the visitors a 33-19 lead. Dougherty scored Hobart's final 10 points of the half, trimming the deficit to six, 38-32.
 
Dougherty led all scorers with 14 first half points on his way to a team-high 24 points. Medunjanin and Ta each scored 13 points in the opening 20 minutes.
 
After Skidmore opened the second half scoring with a 3-pointer, but over the next five minutes, Hobart used a 16-4 run to turn a nine-point deficit into a three-point lead. First-year guard Tucker Lescoe poured in nine of his 14 points during rally.
 
From that point on, neither team led by more than four points leading to the dramatic finish.
 
Skidmore had a considerable advantage at the free throw line, making 19-of-23 (11-of-13 by Medunjanin). Hobart was just 7-of-12 at the line.
 
Dougherty also grabbed a game-high nine rebounds, leading the Statesmen to a 35-24 advantage on the glass. Hobart also committed one fewer turnover (9-10).
 
Hobart will be back in action on Friday, Jan. 20, when the Statesmen visit Clarkson University. Skidmore will also play on Jan. 20, visiting Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Tipoff for both games is scheduled for 8 p.m.