POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (January 23, 2009) -- With a 46-point second half, steady free-throw shooting and senior leadership down the stretch, the Vassar College men's basketball team knocked off Clarkson University for its first Liberty League win of the year, 75-71. Freshman Caleb McGraw (Sitka, AK/Mount Edgecumbe) scored 22 points to lead Vassar, and senior Lenny Holt (Watertown, MA/Watertown) had 11 second half points including seven of eight from the line, all in the second half with the game on the line. 

Vassar improves to 6-9, 1-3 on the season. The Brewers will host St. Lawrence Saturday afternoon at 4:00 pm. Clarkson drops to 10-5, 1-3 in the Liberty League and travels to RPI on Saturday for a 4:00 p.m. game

In a hotly-contested game, Vassar senior Brian Butterworth (Hamilton, MA/Hamilton-Wenham) made his third and biggest three-pointer of the game with 1:55 to play, putting the Brewers ahead 65-64 for their first lead of the second half. Clarkson came right back as it had all game, getting a layup to go up 66-65. Vassar senior Matt Nunn (Lower Gwynedd, PA/Abington Friends) responded. With 1:26 to play, Nunn made a tough turnaround jump hook to give Vassar a 67-66 lead. He then took a charge on the other end of the floor, getting the Brewers a stop when it was needed the most. Holt made a free throw on the ensuing possession, and Vassar did not relinquish that lead for the rest of the game. The Brewers shot 15 of 17 from the free throw line, including 12 for 14 in the second half.

“I am proud of everybody, but especially our four seniors, who stepped up and led us tonight, said Vassar head coach Del Harris.”

Holt finished with 15 points, and had seven assists to just two turnovers. Nunn added 12 points, Butterworth nine, and fellow-senior Joe Davis (East Amherst, NY/St. Joseph's Institute) grabbed six rebounds and supplied tenacious defense.

Vassar made 10 of 23 three pointers, a 44 percent clip and shot 48 percent from the field. Top defensive plays by Nunn, Davis and Butterworth provided the difference. “I think we a very good basketball team when we play up to our potential,” Harris said.

In the first half, the teams were tied eight times and gave hints of the exciting finish to come, but aside from the last few minutes, shots were not falling as generously. Clarkson shot just 39 percent in the first half and 46 percent for the game.

With 2:23 to play in the opening frame, scoring picked up when McGraw got a steal in the open floor and was fouled attempting a layup. He sunk both free throws, tying the game at 23 and setting up what appeared to be a game-speed game of horse with opposing guard Brian Salanger (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee). Salanger quickly broke the tie with a three-pointer, but McGraw came back with a contested three from the corner of his own. Salanger hit another three on Clarkson's next possession, but McGraw again hit a deep shot from the top of the key to tie the game at 29. Finally, Clarkson center Elson Pickering (Brooklyn, NY/Frederick Douglass Academy) got in on the act, netting a three of his own to send Clarkson into the locker rooms with a 32-29 lead.

Brandon Linon led Clarkson with 22 points. Elson Pickering added 14 points, while Koduah led the team with eight rebounds. Casey Black (Littleton, CO/Chatfield) chipped in eight points for Vassar, all of which came in the second half.