VITALLO PRODUCES 24 POINTS, BUT SKIDMORE WINS BY SIX

January 29, 2005

Potsdam, NY – Junior forward Russ Vitallo (Dracut, MA) shot 11-for-16 from the field and scored a game-high 24 points, but the Clarkson University Men’s Basketball team lost another close effort at home, falling to Skidmore 57-51 in a Liberty League game Saturday afternoon at Alumni Gym.

Clarkson fell to 5-13 overall and 1-6 in conference play, while Skidmore improved to 10-6 and 4-3 in the Liberty League. The Golden Knights end their five-game homestand next weekend when they host Vassar and Rensselaer.

Vitallo scored seven of the Knights first nine points as Clarkson ran out to a 15-6 lead in the first nine minutes. However, Clarkson struggled from the field for the next nine minutes and was held scoreless as Skidmore jumped out to a five-point advantage with 1:23 remaining. A flurry of free throws from the Thoroughbreds put the lead at eight for Skidmore at the end of the half.

In the second half, the Knights closed the Skidmore advantage by returning to the inside game. Vitallo made his first four shots of the half and Kamal Crues (Rochester, NY) chipped in three points to take the Skidmore lead down to one, 36-35. After several scoreless minutes, Jon Youngmann (Corinth, NY) put the Knights up by one with a lay up, but Skidmore recaptured their advantage with two quick baskets to take a three-point lead, 41-38 with 8:07 left. After the game was tied at 43-43 with a 3-point play by Brandon Rigg-Reives (Elmont, NY). The Thoroughbreds took advantage of the Knights’ foul trouble and, with a 49-47 advantage with two minutes remaining, recorded their final eight points on free throws while Clarkson mustered just four points on a pair of free throws from Erick Vigansky (Kenosha, WI) and a lay up from Vitallo.

Vitallo was the only Clarkson player to score in double figures. Youngmann produced 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists.

Dana Martin scored 18 points on 6-for-13 shooting and 6-for-7 from the line. Michael Murray added 13 points and Greg Gallagher recorded 12 points and seven rebounds.

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