WORCESTER, Mass. – No. 20 Skidmore University used a second half drive guided by Edvinas Rupkus (Naujoji Akmene, Lithuania) and Dakpe Yiljep (Malvern, Pa.) to defeat the Lancers of Worcester State University by a score of 83-67 in a Tuesday evening non-conference game.

THE BASICS

November 28, 2017

Lancer Gymnasium

Score: Skidmore 83, Worcester State 67

Records: Skidmore (4-0) | Worcester State (0-5)

1^ST HALF

After a minute and a half of a nil score, Skidmore's Rupkus put the Thoroughbreds on the board, sinking a pair of free throws. The Lancers matched the two points two minutes later when Shaun McCarthy (Oxford, Mass.) made a layup. Skidmore then attained a 5-point lead following a layup from Rupkus and a triple from Jack Morrow (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.). Cal Howes (Maynard, Mass.) made a layup to get within three, however, the Thoroughbreds' Jack Byrne (Hazlet, N.J.) made two consecutive 3-pointers and Rupkus added in two points for Skidmore to attain a quick 11-point lead (15-4).

Worcester State slowly punched away at the Thoroughbreds' lead in the second half of the stanza as McCarthy's and-one ignited a 5-0 run for the Blue and Gold. The Lancers went on another run to get within two but Skidmore responded with a Rupkus triple and a Pat Gallagher (Croton-On-Huston, N.Y.) layup to push away once again. The Lancers came within two with 3:31 remaining in the first half on a layup from McCarthy and saw their first and only lead of the game with 2:44 on the clock succeeding a triple from Will Watkins Jr. (Southbridge, Mass.). The Thoroughbreds stole the lead back on the next possession and held a slim 37-34 lead heading into the intermission.

2^ND HALF

Skidmore came out of the locker room with a 12-0 run led by Yiljep who scored 9 of the 12 points. Worcester State's Chris Cardoso (Jamaica Plains, Mass.) trimmed the Lancers' 15-point deficit with a 3-pointer with 16 minutes remaining in the period. The Lancers got within nine, but were not able to stop the Thoroughbreds' offense that poured in 46 second half points to pull away and notch an 83-67 road win and remain undefeated.

COUNT ME IN

• Rupkus led the offense with 22 points, going 6-for-12 from the field, 4-for-5 from 3-point range, and 6-for-7 from the charity stripe. He also collected seven boards, five assists and two steals.
• Four other Thoroughbreds scored double-digits including Yiljep with 15 (all scored in the second half), Byrne with 13, Gallagher and Chase Ta (Princeton, N.J.) with 10 each.
• Marcus Jackson (Schenectady, N.Y.) logged a team-high eight rebounds in the win.
• Worcester State's McCarthy posted a career-high 18 points and a career-best 11 rebounds for his first career double-double. He went 8-for-10 from the free throw line.
• Cardoso recorded 16 points with four assists and a steal. Watkins Jr. tallied 11 points on three triples and a jumper. Bryson Gulley (Mattapan, Mass.) put up nine points in the setback.
• The Thoroughbreds shot 43.1% from the field and 48.1% from 3-point range.
• Worcester State shot 36.7% from the field and 31.6% from beyond the arc.
• Skidmore held a 41-39 edge in rebounds.

UP NEXT

Worcester State returns home on Thursday (Nov. 30) to host Lasell in a 7 p.m. matchup. Skidmore head back to Saratoga Springs and hosts St. Lawrence in its first league game of the year on Friday (Dec. 1).

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