TROY, N.Y. -- Erik Sanders led all players with 18 points to lead Skidmore to a 59-40 win over Renssealer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Liberty League men's basketball action on Saturday afternoon at East Campus Arena. With the loss, the Engineers fall to 3-10 overall and 0-4 in league action, while the Thoroughbreds improve to 7-5, with a 4-0 conference slate. 

Skidmore led the entire game, but Rensselaer battled through the first half, tying the score on four occasions, including at the half. The Thoroughbreds largest margin was only six in the first half, as strong shooting by Josh Dugas (Monroe, CT / St. Luke's) andChase Almond (South Kingstown, RI / South Kingstown) kept the Engineers within two for most of the half. Dugas, who shot 4-for-6 in the first, paced all players with nine points, while Almond totaled six points for RPI. 

Rensselaer would tie the game two more times early in the second before Skidmore broke the game open, starting with a 6-0 run that concluded with a free throw by Aldin Medunjanin (New York, NY / Millbrook) at 15:03. Brian Hatcher (Danbury, CT / Immaculate) and Jonathan Luster (Essex, CT / Valley Regional) combined for five points later in the half that pulled the Engineers back within one, 35-34, but a 7-0 run by the Thoroughbreds denied RPI their comeback. Skidmore ended the game on a 10-0 run, with Connor Merrill (Panton, VT / Vermont Academy) capping off the scoring with a 3-pointer with just 13 seconds to go. 

Along with Sanders, Skidmore got double-digit scoring totals from Merrill and Medunjanin, who both finished with 13 points. Merrill led the Thoroughbreds off the boards with a team-high seven rebounds. Skidmore shot 51.1 percent (23-45) from the floor, and outrebounded the Engineers by a 31-26 margin.

Dugas and Almond both finished with 12 points apiece for Rensselaer, while Hatcher chipped in with 10 points to go along with eight rebounds and three assists. The Engineers shot 35.4 percent (14-48) from the field. 

RPI will return to action on Tuesday, visiting Bard to continue Liberty League play.