Posted by Skidmore Athletics
CASTLETON, VT — Five players scored in double figures to lead the Skidmore College men's basketball team to a 108-99 OT victory over Castleton on Dec. 6, at Glenbrook Gym.
The Thoroughbreds improve to 4-1, while the Spartans fall to 2-4.
Brian Lowry '12 scored a team-high 19 points, while Connor Merrill '15 added 17 and John Mantas '12 had 16, both off the bench. Terron Victoria '12 tallied 15 and Gerard O'Shea '12 poured in 13.
Greg Hughes had a game-high 28 points and Mark Comstock finished with 21 for Castleton. Tyler Ackley recorded 14 and Dammy Mustapha added 13.
The Thoroughbreds took a 94-92 lead with just 11 seconds left after a free throw from Victoria, but Hughes found Matt Cooney for the game-tying layup with 2.4 seconds left to send the game to overtime.
In the extra period, Skidmore took control, draining a triple on their first possession and holding Castleton without a bucket for the final three minutes on their way to the 108-99 win.
The Spartans started hot, jumping out to the 16-6 lead just 5:06 into the contest. The Thoroughbreds got back in it, going on an impressive 32-8 run over the next seven minutes to push their lead up to 38-24 with 7:54 left. The Spartans countered over the next six minutes by outscoring their opponents 27-9 and taking back the lead, 51-47. However, Skidmore scored twice in the final minute of play to tie it up at 51 at the break.
There were nine lead changes in the second half, as neither team could gain the upper hand. In the waning minutes though, it was the Thoroughbreds who made the first move, breaking an 86-86 tie with a 5-0 run.
Skidmore shot 57 percent from the floor and held a 50-35 advantage on the glass, while outscoring the Castelton bench, 47-14.
The Thoroughbreds host No. 1 Middlebury at 8 p.m. Dec.9.