Saratoga Springs, NY – When a Nick Padilla jumper missed its mark on the last shot of the game, the Clarkson University Men's Basketball team found itself the winner of yet another close contest, downing Skidmore College 72-71 to open Liberty League play on Friday evening.

The Golden Knights moved to 5-1 overall and 1-0 in conference games, while Skidmore dropped to 2-4 and 0-1. The victory was Clarkson's fourth win by six points or less in just six games this year.

Clarkson started the game off fast with seven of the first nine points in the opening three-plus minutes, but the Thoroughbreds responded with 10-0 run, capped by a 3-pointer from Aidan Roy at 13:22. Skidmore eventually opened the margin to as many as nine on a Dillon McCafferty 3-pointer near the midway point of the first half, only to see the Knights respond with two long-range makes from Ryan Miles-Ferguson and Aydin Kocak. Clarkson would eventually tie the score, but fell back behind before settling for a two-point deficit at the break.

Clarkson would take its first lead since early in the opening half at the 13:31 mark on a turn-around jumper by Braeden Burns, putting the Knights up 49-48. The lead would expand to six following a Ryan Miles-Ferguson 3-pointer at 11:40, but Skidmore scored the next nine to reclaim the lead. From there, it was a back-and-forth affair, with the lead exchanging hands several times. Clarkson went up for good with a layup from Finn Cork at 1:16, but the final moments were not without drama. Skidmore made a free throw at the other end to cut the margin to one, only to see Braeden Burns take a hand off and convert a reverse layup with 28 seconds to go. Burns could have made it a two-possession game with a free throw after being fouled on his make, but missed. At the other end, Aidan Roy went through the lane for a bucket and also missed the tail-end of his attempted three-point play with a missed free throw. After Ryan Miles-Ferguson collected the loose ball off the miss, the Knights were able to run off seven seconds before getting fouled. Another missed free throw at the other end gave Skidmore a chance, except the last second heave from Padilla in the corner hit the front of the rim as time expired.

Ryan Miles-Ferguson led the team with 20 points while also adding in 11 rebounds, shooting 8-for-15 from the floor with four 3-pointers. Braeden Burns added 15 points and Frankie Rainville chipped in 10 points. Matteo Sinon also contributed eight points and 11 rebounds. The Knights scored 31 second-chance points in the game thanks to 22 offensive rebounds.

For Skidmore, Aidan Roy and Jack LaGarde each had 17 points, with LaGarde also tossing in 14 rebounds and six blocked shots. Nick Padilla also tossed in 16 points for the Thoroughbreds.