CU Men's Basketball Preview - vs. Skidmore (2/19)

Men's Basketball 2/18/2016 12:45:00 PM February 18, 2016

CU Men's Basketball Preview - vs. Skidmore (2/19)

Already having filled the role of spoiler on Wednesday, the Clarkson University Men's Basketball team will look to close out the 2015-16 season on a positive note as the Golden Knights will host Skidmore College on Friday night in the team's regular-season finale at Alumni Gymnasium.

The Golden Knights picked up their first win in the month of February with a 58-57 victory at St. Lawrence on Wednesday, improving to 9-15 overall and 6-9 in the Liberty League. Though Clarkson can't play its way into the conference tournament at this point, the Green and Gold will look to make the road rocky for another team at the top of the Liberty League leaderboard when Skidmore comes to Potsdam on Friday. The Thoroughbreds enter the game at 14-8 overall and 9-5 and are looking to gain the top seed in the upcoming conference tournament.

Lately teams have tried to remove Felix Abongo from the equation on offense by doubling him, but the senior forward has proven to be unselfish and patient with his game. Over his last four games, Abongo has averaged 11.8 points per game, more than two off his regular output, but he has averaged 5.0 assists per contest in that stretch including 13 in the last two games. Abongo is averaging 13.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game heading into his final contest. Junior Derek Hart is chipping in 12.8 points and 5.6 rebounds as well as a league-leading 2.1 blocks per game and classmates Conrad Zampier and Drew Zlogar have combined to make 75 3-pointers.

Skidmore won the first meeting by a score of 66-61, and freshman Edvinas Rupkus had a huge game for the Thoroughbreds in mid-January. Rupkus shot 11-for-16 from the field for 26 points and eight rebounds against Clarkson, better than his 16.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Rupkus leads the conference in field goal percentage at 57.5% and is third in the league in scoring. Senior Erik Sanders ranks in the top seven in both points (16.2 ppg) and rebounding (6.0 rpg) with 39 3-pointers, 10th in the conference. Royce Paris leads the league in free throw percentage at 84.5% and is producing 8.2 points and 1.6 assists per contest.

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Players Mentioned

#14 Felix Abongo: G; 6' 4"; Senior

#42 Derek Hart: F; 6' 7"; Junior

#23 Conrad Zampier: G; 6' 1"; Junior

#21 Drew Zlogar: F; 6' 6"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#14 Felix Abongo
: 6' 4"; Senior
: G

#42 Derek Hart
: 6' 7"; Junior
: F

#23 Conrad Zampier
: 6' 1"; Junior
: G

#21 Drew Zlogar
: 6' 6"; Junior
: F