Potsdam, NY – Senior Derek Hart poured in 25 and sophomore Liam Ellis recorded a career-high 21 points as the Clarkson University Men's Basketball team held off Bard College 76-71 in Liberty League action Friday night at Alumni Gymnasium.

The Golden Knights improved to 12-10 overall and 7-6 in the Liberty League and Bard dropped to 3-19 overall and 1-12 in the Liberty League. Clarkson pulled to within one game of the third and fourth spots in the Liberty League playoffs with its win.

Clarkson started with a 3-pointer from Drew Zlogar on its opening possession and never trailed in the first half, and the Knights would race out to a big lead. With the scored tied 5-5, the Knights went on a 13-0 run in four-plus minutes, capped off by a pair of jumpers from Liam Ellis. Clarkson maintained a 13-point advantage after a jumper in the lane from Derek Hart at the 9:57 mark, but Bard chipped away with a 9-0 run of its own to get back into the game. In fact, the Raptors tied the game twice near the close of the half, though Clarkson had a seven-point lead until Bard's final possession. Chris Lockwood watched the shot clock wind down and buried a deep 3-pointer from the top of the key with just five seconds left in the half to pull the Raptors to within four at the break.

Clarkson shot well in the first half, going 13-for-24 overall and 8-for-8 from the free throw line, but Bard countered with eight offensive rebounds for numerous second-chance points. Liam Ellis closed the first half with 11 points on a perfect 5-for-5 performance from the field, while Derek Hart added 10 points on 4-for-6 shooting. Bard's scoring was more spread out with our players recording six points or more.

Early on in the second half, Bard turned a five-point deficit into a one-point lead following a 3-pointer from Harry Johnson at 12:57, but Clarkson responded with six straight points of its own and would never trail again. The Knights expanded their advantage to as many as nine points on three occasions, including an alley-oop dunk from Zlogar to Hart with less than five minutes to go. That play didn't prove to shake the Raptors, however, as the visitors climbed back to within three a few moments later. Clarkson always had a response thanks to some excellent free throw shooting and the Knights held on for a five-point win.

Clarkson shot 25-for-28 from the free throw line, including a flawless first 18 shots. Hart finished with 25 points on 10-for-14 shooting from the floor and Ellis went 6-for-8 from the field and 8-for-8 from the line for his career-high 21. Drew Zlogar also chipped in 16 points for the Knights. For Bard, Harry Johnson had a team-high 18 points, including four 3-pointers. Three others finished in double figures for the Raptors, including Christopher Rogers (13 points), Armando Dunn (12 points) and Emmanuel Oyakhilome (10 points).</p>