SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.— The Skidmore College men's basketball team shook off a determined St. Lawrence effort to win its second straight and fourth Liberty League championship in the last six years, 72-68.
 
The Thoroughbreds (18-8) will take a six game win streak into the NCAA Division III Tournament that begins Thursday or Friday. The tournament field will be announced on NCAA.com on Monday at 12:30 p.m.
 
Tournament MVP Edvinas Rupkus led the Thoroughbreds with a game-high 22 points. The talented freshman shoot 6-9 (66.7%) from the floor and 10-11 (90.9%) from the free throw line.  Royce Paris came off the bench to score a season-high 19 points. Jack Morrow added 10 of his own off the bench. Nick Volpe had a game-high eight rebounds, including two key offensive boards in the second half.
 
Kyle Kobis led the Saints (14-12) with 16 points, 14 coming in the second half.  Kyle Edwards scored 12 to go along with six assists and Dom DeRegis scored 11 off the bench.
 
Skidmore seemed in control as the first half wound down with Rupkus scoring nine of the team's first 19 points for a 19-12 lead with 8:51 left. The Thoroughbreds pushed the lead to 11, 36-25 with 2:02 to play, but allowed an Edwards buzzer beater to go into the intermission up 36-27.
 
The Saints caught fire in the second half, opening the half with a 15-5 run, capped by a DeRegis three to take 42-41 lead with 15:45 left. Skidmore scored the next seven points to back in front 48-42 at 12:49.
 
SLU battled back to eventually go back in front 62-60 on another three from DeRegis with 4:21 to play. The lead went stretched to four, their largest of the game 66-62 with 2:59 left.
 
Skidmore never panicked and the partisan SRO crowd of more than 1300 saw Rupkus take over with a layup and then a pair of free throws to tie it 66-66 at the 2:02 mark. After a missed Saint three, Paris went the distance for a lay-up and 68-66 Thoroughbred lead. 
 
The Saints tied it again on a pair of Kaleb Faison free throws at :47.  But Rupkus and Paris calmly hit two free throws each for the 72-68 final.
 
Joining Rupkus on the All-Tournament Team were teammates Erik Saunders and Royce Paris along with Deshon Burgess of Union, and Riley Naclerio and Kyle Edwards of St. Lawrence.
 
COACH JOE BURKE QUOTES:
 
First I want to commend St Lawrence. I think they are a great basketball team that is so well coached. We had to beat a really good team tonight.
 
As for this team, it's truly a testament to their character, hard work and most importantly their resiliency. As a team we dealt with adversity early both personally and on the court.  We lost an All American, a captain and an incredible basketball player back in November but this group kept improving and coming together. We had to make some sacrifices early on but they stayed committed to making this team the best it could possibly be in February.  Our veterans took increased leadership roles and our new guys had the attitude to help in anyway possible.  
 
Thank you so much to the fans, both the students and our community support.  That gym was as loud and as electric I have ever seen. Our guys played great against a great team in a tremendous environment.