Box Score SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - In its second season in the Liberty League, the Bard College men's basketball team is probably beyond the point of enjoying moral victories.

Still, the Raptors hung tough with the reigning two-time Liberty League champions Friday night, eventually losing, 66-56, to Skidmore College.

Box score

The Thoroughbreds (7-3 overall, 1-0 Liberty League) tried to put the game away several times, only to have Bard respond repeatedly, and the game was in doubt right until the final minute.

The game was evenly played early on, but a sudden push from Skidmore about midway through the first half gave the Thoroughbreds a 22-13 with about eight minutes until the break. The Raptors rallied, outscoring Skidmore 14-3 over that final stretch, and Bard took a surprising 27-25 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Skidmore's shooting improved dramatically in the second half and the Thoroughbreds quickly re-established control early on, but they just couldn't shake the Raptors. The edge lingered between six and eight points for a long time, and when Bard's Chris McNaughton hit a three-pointer with 8:49 left in the game, Bard trailed, 40-35.

Skidmore gradually pushed the lead back to 10, and Bard once again came back. Two free throws by Siondueh Burnette, a jumper by Berk Atuk and a layup by Lamar Powell cut Skidmore's lead to 53-47 with 5:33 left.

Bard just couldn't get the big shot or the big stop when it counted, however, and Skidmore made enough free throws down the stretch to win the game. The margin was six with two minutes left, then six again with 45 seconds left, but Bard didn't get closer. Nine different players scored for the winners, led by freshman Tanner Brooks (Pikesville, MD), who had 18, and sophomore Connor Merrill (Panton, VT), who had 12.

McNaughton had his best shooting game of the season so far, leading Bard with 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting. Powell scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half, Burnette had 12 points and eight rebounds, and Frank Stortini added seven points and nine rebounds.

Bard gets back on the court on Saturday afternoon at 4 at Union College. You can follow that game via Live Stats and Live Video right here.