Box Score

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (February 19, 2008) –- With a three point shot from the right corner with 40 seconds to play, Brian Butterworth (Hamilton, MA/Hamilton-Wenham) gave the Vassar men's basketball team a 77-71 lead and ensured an 80-71 victory over RPI Tuesday night at the Athletics & Fitness Center. Vassar's victory, coupled with a Hamilton victory over Hobart. propels the Brewers into the Liberty League playoffs for the second straight year. Behind an 18-point performance from senior guard Tyson Brazell (Salt Lake City, UT/Waterford School), the Brewers improved their record to 17-5, 8-4 and are now assured of one of four spots in next weekend's Liberty League playoffs. RPI is now 10-13, 5-7 on the season.

After leading 42-41 at the half, the Brewers opened up the second half on a 12-0 run and held a double-digit lead for most of the half. But Vassar was tested down the stretch by RPI, which used a 9-0 run to come within four points, 72-68, with 2:19 to play. The Red Hawks got even closer after Kris Kowalczyk (Troy, NY/Colonie) connected on RPI's third three-point try in one possession to cut Vassar's lead to 74-71 with 1:01 to play. But that is as close as RPI would get, as Butterworth's three on the next possession sealed the win.

Vassar played the entire second half without captain and scoring leader Lawrence Avitabile (Southington, CT/Southington), who left late in the first half with a head injury. Forwards Joe Davis (East Amherst, NY/ST. Joseph's Institute) and Matt Nunn (Lower Gwynedd, PA/Abington Friends) picked up the slack for Avitabile, combining for 19 second half points. Vassar received scoring from four different players in their game-changing 12-0 run, including three-point shots by Nunn and Danny Forcella (Falmouth, ME/Falmouth).

RPI got off to a fast start in the first half, taking a 9-0 lead on baskets by three different players. Brazell finally ignited the Brewer offense, scoring Vassar's first four points and helping to cut the RPI lead to 13-8. RPI pulled out front again, taking its largest lead of the first half, 30-19 after two free throws by Sam Zullo (Indian Lake, NY/Broadalbin-Perth) with just over seven minutes remaining.

After Avitabile left the game with 4:46 to play in the first half, Vassar took control of the games momentum and chipped away at the RPI lead with steals and fast break points. Freshman Taylor Petruccelli (Stratford, CT/St. Joseph) was key in the comeback effort, scoring five straight points with three minutes remaining to tie the game at 35. Vassar took its first lead on the ensuing possession when Jon Swartz (Nanuet, NY/Nanuet) stole the ball and coasted in for a lay-up. The Brewers had a three-point lead with fifteen seconds on the clock, but RPI's Mike Brion (Nashua, NH/Bishoip Guertin) was able to draw a foul on a last-second shot and converted his free throws, ending the first half with the Brewers holding a 1 point lead, 42-41.

Sam Simmons (Newburgh, NY/Newburgh) did all he could to keep RPI in the game, scoring a game-high 19 points on 9 of 13 shooting. But Vassar's blistering shooting was too much. The Brewers shot 50 percent from the field in the second half and 82 percent from the free throw line on the night. Brazell was the most efficient Vassar player, scoring his 18 points on 9 of 12 shooting. Kowalczyk added 13 points for RPI, shooting 4 of 6 from three-point land. Bench points were also a key for Vassar. Led by Nunn and Davis, they outscored RPI in bench points, 43-24.

Vassar will host St. Lawrence on Friday, while RPI hosts Clarkson.