The Skidmore College men's basketball team punched its playoff ticket with an 82-69 Liberty League win over St. Lawrence University, Friday night at the Williamson Sports Center.

The Thoroughbreds improve to 9-4 in Liberty play and 15-9 overall, while the Saints fall to 7-6 and 11-12.

Skidmore controlled the game early, hitting its first seven shots to grab a quick 19-4 lead. The Thoroughbreds led by as many as 29 in the first half on the way to a 46-19 lead at the break. Skidmore hit 10 of 17 threes (58.8%) in the half, while the Saints struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on only one of eight.

St. Lawrence came out strong in the second, cutting the Thoroughbred lead to seven, 58-51 with 7:14 to play, but Skidmore regrouped to get the lead back to double figures, 66-54 with 4:31 left. The Saints were unable to get any closer down the stretch.

Senior guard Jeff Altimar (Medford, Mass./Medfield) scored 13 first-half points on his way to a team-high 19 points, going 5-9 from three-point range. Melvis Langyintuo (Tamale, Ghana/Lawrenceville) added 18 points and seven rebounds on 4-5 shooting from downtown. Brian Lowry (West Hartford, Conn./St. George's) scored 15 off the bench. Gerard O'Shea (West Sand Lake, N.Y./Averill Park) scored eight points, going 8-10 from the free throw line in the second half to go along with seven assists.

Ralph Temgoua (Paris, France/Deerfield Acad.) led the Saints with 21 points. Garrett Sharlow (Massena, N.Y./Massena) added 17.

Skidmore will close out the regular season at home Saturday against Clarkson University at 4 p.m. The game is part of the BIG GREEN SCREAM. St. Lawrence is at Union College at 4 p.m.