Box Score

Emerson-William Paterson Box Score

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (November 17, 2007) -- Behind 26 points and six assists from Tyson Brazell (Salt Lake City, UT/Waterford School) and a double-double (16 points, 11 rebounds) from senior Lawrence Avitable (Southington, CT/Southington), the Vassar's men's basketball team opened its season with a 72-84 win over Baruch in the opening game of the Vassar College Tip-Off Tournament Friday night at the Athletics & Fitness Center. The Brewers will face Emerson, a 74-71 winner over William Paterson, on Saturday at 3:00 pm

Brazell's 26 points was two shy of tying his career high of 28 that was set in the ECAC Upstate Championship game against SUNY Oswego last season. For Avitabile, it was his 61st game scoring in double figures, the 28th time he has had 10 or more rebounds and the 23rd double-double of his career.

The Brewers rode a comfortable lead throughout the game and led by as many as 20 points in the second half (67-47) but were tested in the closing minutes. Baruch fought for several steals and key baskets to cut the lead to eight points, 80-72, but only 28 seconds remained. To ensure the victory, Vassar made 7 of its last 10 free throws.

With the Brewers maintaining a double-digit lead for the majority of the game, coach Mike Dutton was able to play 13 different players, 11 of which scored. The Brewers were also bolstered by 12 points from junior Brian Butterworth (Hamilton, MA/Hamilton-Wenham).

In the early going, the Brewers were clearly shaking off opening game jitters, trailing 8-5 after 6-9 Baruch center Philip Schatz (Archbishop Malloy/Middle Village, NY) netted the visitors' first four baskets. But the Brewers tightened their defensive pressure, forcing a slew of Bearcats turnovers that fueled a 13-0 run and led to a commanding 18-8 lead.

Vassar dictated the tempo of the first half, forcing 11 turnovers and consistently breaking down both the Bearcats' full court pressure and 2-3 zone. Seniors Brazell and Avitabile made 11 of their 14 field goal attempts, combining for 29 first half points. The half ended much more intensely than it began, as Avitabile streaked through the lane to throw down a buzzer-beating one-handed dunk off a nifty assist from Jon Swartz (Nanuet, NY/Nanuet).

Schatz did all he could to keep Baruch in the game, netting 14 first half points (18 total). Laurence Smith (Frederick Douglass/Bronx, NY) also had 13 points.

Vassar shot a blistering 54.4 percent from the floor and held Baruch to 35.3 percent. The Brewers held a 44-33 margin off the backboards, getting 22 offensive and defensive rebounds respectively.

In the second game of the Vassar College Tip-Off Tournament, Emerson College's Will Dawkins (Springfield, MA/Commerce) hit a 3-point shot with one second remaining to lead the Lions past William Paterson, 74-71, nightcap of the Vassar College Men's Tip-Off Tournament. Emerson will face Vassar in the championship game at 3:00 pm, while William Paterson faces Baruch at 1:00 pm.

In a wild and frenetic ending, William Paterson, which had been held without a field goal for 7:55 of the second half (from 11:05 to 3:12) had tied the game at 71-71 following a jumper by guard Al-Basser Holloway (Union, NJ/Newark East Side) with five seconds to play. Dawkins took the inbound pass and made a mad dash down the right side of the floor and canned his jumper as time expired. William Paterson had taken a 69-68 lead after senior guard Joey Spiegel (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck) went coast to coast following an Emerson missed layup to convert his own layup and a free throw to put the Pioneers ahead, 69-68. With 17 seconds to play, Emerson's sophomore center Bryan Rouse (East Greenwich, RI/Toll Gate) put Emerson in front 71-69 following a conversion of a layup and free throw.

Emerson's comeback was keyed by Rouse who scored 18 points, five coming during a critical stretch when the Lions took control of the game, erasing a 13 point halftime deficit and building a five-point lead (60-55) of their own. Both teams battled back and forth over the final five minutes.

Emerson got a team high 19 points from Tom Messinger (Florence, MA/Deerfield Academy), who shot 6 for 10 from three-point range and 16 from Dawkins. William Paterson was led by Spiegel's 20 points and 10 from Gabriel Paul (Hillside, NJ/Hillside).

The Pioneers held a 35-22 halftime lead and led by double figures for the first ten minutes of the second half. The Lions, however, turned up their aggressiveness and defensive tenacity and were able to cut the William Paterson lead to 52-50 with 8:38 to play following three straight baskets by Rouse and two by Shannon. A long range three pointer by freshman guard Jon Showers (York, PA/York Catholic) provided the Lions with their first lead of the game, 53-52 with 7:41 to play, finishing an 11-0 run. A single free throw by William Paterson guard Al-Basser Holloway (Union, NJ/Newark East Side) tied the game at 53-53 moments later and set up the frenetic, scrappy finish.

In the first half, both teams started slowly in a feeling out process, yet the score was only tied once, 2-2, with 18:32 to play. From that point, William Paterson capitalized on 14 Emerson turnovers and a commanding inside game (16 point in the paint) to gradually pull away, taking 35-22 intermission lead. Spiegel had nine first half points for the Pioneers, and his single free throw with 3:30 to play provided the Pioneers with their largest lead at 31-18. Rouse had eight first half points for Emerson, which shot only 31 percent in the first half compared to 48 percent for William Paterson.