Potsdam, NY – An 18-0 run early in the second half turned a 10-point lead into an eight-point deficit for the Clarkson University Men's Basketball team as the Golden Knights' playoff hopes took a hit with an 80-67 loss to Skidmore on Friday night at Alumni Gymnasium.

The Golden Knights fell to 11-13 overall and 7-10 in conference games, while Skidmore moved to 12-11 overall and 8-9 in the Liberty League. Clarkson will take on Rensselaer on Saturday afternoon to close out the 2017-18 regular season.

Skidmore shot 8-for-13 from beyond the 3-point arc in the second half, with the majority of the baskets coming at key times when the Thoroughbreds needed a spark to get out of the doldrums or to hold off a run from the Golden Knights. The 18-0 run in the first six minutes of the second half saw junior Dakpe Yiljep score 12 straight to turn a 10-point deficit into a lead that Skidmore would never relinquish.

The first half saw the two teams jostle back and forth for the first portion of the period, with Skidmore finally edging out by near the midway point (20-15). A few moments later, Clarkson gained the lead on a tough Matthew Hornak 3-pointer at the 5:14 mark (23-22) and the Knights extended the advantage to five points when Gary Hanley converted in the lane with 2:58 to go (30-25). Despite shooting only 10-for-30 in the half, Skidmore would find itself trailing by just three at the break, 32-29.

Clarkson appeared ready to run away with the game in the opening moments of the second half, scoring seven straight in less than two minutes, capped by a pair of free throws from Matt Higgins to make the score 39-29. That was when Yiljep took over, scoring 10 points in a stretch of two minutes on two 3-pointers, two free throws and a jumper. Less than 30 seconds after tying the game, Yiljep scored going to the basket to put the Thoroughbreds up by two, and 3-pointers from Noah Meren and Jack Morrow gave Skidmore an eight-point lead (47-39). Clarkson would fall behind by double figures, but at the 9:19 mark Joe Lucas hit a 3-pointer and added a free throw after the foul to pull the Knights back within five, 56-51. Skidmore responded by going on a 13-2 run in the next three minutes, but again Clarkson clawed back into the contest when Lucas hit a 3-pointer at the 2:42 mark to reduce the lead to seven (69-62). Edvinas Rupkus then started to assert himself on the inside, getting to the line and the rim, scoring six straight for the Thoroughbreds to help Skidmore reclaim a more comfortable margin.

Sophomore Matt Higgins buried five 3-pointers for a team-high 22 points to lead the Knights, adding in eight rebounds and three steals. Joe Lucas also tossed in 10 points for Clarkson and Gary Hanley had nine points and seven boards. Clarkson shot 12-for-24 from beyond the 3-point line.

Yiljep scored 27 points in just 19 minutes off the bench, shooting 8-for-11 from the floor with a 5-for-6 effort from beyond the 3-point arc. Noah Meren added 18 points for Skidmore and Edvinas Rupkus tossed in 15 points, with seven coming in the final 2:20 of the game. The Thoroughbreds were one better than Clarkson by going 13-for-26 from the 3-point arc and shot 23-for-26 from the free throw line.