Box Score

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (February 23, 2008) –- Senior guard Tyson Brazell (Salt Lake City, UT/Waterford School) scored a game-high 23 points and added nine rebounds to lead the Vassar men's basketball team to a 61-55 overtime win over Liberty League rival Clarkson in the regular season finale for both clubs this afternoon at the Athletics and Fitness Center.

With the victory the Brewers (18-6, 9-5) secured the third seed in the Liberty League Tournament next weekend at St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY. Vassar will faced second-seeded Hamilton College (16-8, 9-5) on Friday evening at 6:00 p.m. The Brewers, who tied a program with record for regular season wins, will enter the league's post-season tournament for the second consecutive year and have now won four of their last five games.

Vassar took a 54-53 overtime lead on a free throw by junior forward Joe Davis (East Amherst, NY/St. Joseph's Institute) with three minutes remaining. After Vassar came up with a stop on the defensive end, the Brewers moved in front 56-53 with 2:14 to go on a basket by Brazell who scored five of Vassar's 10 points in the overtime period. The Brewers secured the victory by hitting five-of-six from the foul line in the final 30 seconds; capping of a 27-of-35 effort at the charity stripe.

Junior forward Matt Nunn (Lower Gwynedd, PA/Abington Friends) also finished in double figures for Vassar with 13 points and seven rebounds. Clarkson was led sophomore guard Keith Murray (Queens, NY/St. John's Northwestern Military Academy) who had 20 points and 12 rebounds. Sophomore guard Brandon Linton (Queens, NY/Holy Cross) added 12 points and hit a three-point field goal with 27 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the score at 51 and force the extra session.

Despite the loss Clarkson qualified for the league's four-team post-season tournament. The Golden Knights (9-16, 7-7) will play top seeded and host St. Lawrence (17-8, 12-2) on Friday evening at 8:00 p.m.

This afternoon's contest also marked the final home game in the careers of Vassar seniors Brazell, Lawrence Avitabile (Southington, CT/Southington), Jon Swartz (Nanuet, NY/Nanuet), Daniel Forcella (Falmouth, ME/Falmouth) and Kyle Magnus (South Burlington, VT/Rice Memorial).