NEWBURGH, NY (November 23, 2004) -- Senior guard Seth Taft canned a 3-pointer with 38 seconds to play to extend Vassar's lead to 75-70 and junior guard Judson Winton calmly made four clutch free throws in the remaining 24 seconds, as Vassar defeated SUNY New-Paltz, 79-74, in the Hudson Valley Tournament held at Mount St. Mary's College Tuesday night.
Taft (Philadelphia, PA/Abington Friends), scored 17 points on 7 of 8 shooting, and his trifecta, assisted on by Wilson (San Francisco, CA/University), gave the Brewers a five point cushion that held up against a late SUNY-New Paltz run.
Winton, who went to the free throw line twice in the last 24 seconds, the second trip coming after a steal with 19 seconds to play, connected on all of his four free throws en route to an 18 point evening.
Vassar, which trailed 35-28 at halftime, closed the gap to 41-40 thanks to baskets by junior guard Will Byrne (Chelmsford, MA/Concord Academy), freshman forward Lawrence Avitabile (Southington, CT/Southington) and consecutive buckets by Taft.
Vassar and SUNY-New Paltz traded baskets over the next several minutes until Avitable (22 points on 9-13 shooting), took over the game. His six consecutive points (two baskets, two free throws), gave Vassar a 53-49 lead, one that the Brewers would not relinquish.
Freshman guard Tyson Brazell's (Salt Lake City, UT/Waterford School) two free throws increased Vassar's lead to its largest (60-50) with 7:10 to play. SUNY-New Paltz was able to cut the Vassar lead to 71-70 with 2:16 to play and the two teams went scoreless for nearly a minute. A free throw by sophomore forward William Kieffer (Chappaqua, NY/Horace Greely) made the score 72-70 with 1:30 to play.
Kieffer, who missed both games of the Amherst Invitational with an injury, had 10 rebounds in 20 minutes. Byrne added 11 points for Vassar, who next plays against Manhattanville on Sunday, November 28 at 2:00 at the New Athletic Center.
The championship game of the Hudson Valley Tournament will be played on Wednesday, December 1 at 8:00 p.m. Vassar will play the winner of the Bard-Mount St. Mary's game.
