The Middlebury men's basketball team suffered an 82-77 road loss at Skidmore (5-1) on Saturday afternoon. The Thoroughbreds scored 29 points from the free throw line on 39 attempts. The Panthers (3-5) return to action on Tuesday when they host Castleton in the team's home-opening game at 7:00 p.m.

The game stayed within two possessions for most of the first half with Middlebury scoring the final four points of the stanza to take a 35-29 lead into the break. Matt St. Amour led the Panthers with 14 points, while Erik Sanders scored 13 for the Thoroughbreds.

The game was tight in the second half with five lead changes and two ties in the final 20 minutes.

Skidmore opened the stanza with a 7-0 run, capped by an Edvinas Rupkus three, and retook the lead 36-35 at the 17:45 mark.

The Thoroughbreds carved their biggest lead of the game, when Sanders converted a midcourt steal into a quick field goal for a 68-58 lead with 4:35 to play. That would be Skidmore's last field goal of the game.

The Panthers used a 12-4 run to get to within two, 72-70, with 59.8 to play. St. Amour had five of the 12 points, while Hilal Dahleh hit a three-pointer to close the run.

Forced to the line, Skidmore went a perfect 10-10 over the final minute for the 82-77 win. The Thoroughbreds hit their final 14 free throws of the game over the final 4:35, as Rupkus knocked down all 10 of his attempts.

Rupkus scored 23 of his 24 points in the second half, going 5-6 from the floor and 12-13 from the line. Sanders added eight rebounds and two blocks for 19 points. Issac Carp came off the bench to score 13 points, 10 in the second half.

St. Amour led Middlebury with 23 points, while Matt Daley chipped in 19 points and nine rebounds. Jake Brown scored 10 points and had five assists. Jack Daly added seven rebounds and six assists in the game.