Box Score

WALTHAM, MA (November 29, 2009) – Brandeis University made the most of its 14 second chance points, converting back-to-back old fashioned three-point plays at a critical juncture of the first half to fend off a pesky Vassar College men's basketball team. The Judges used that momentum for a 9-0 run that pulled them away from a tight game en route to a 79-52 victory over the Brewers Sunday afternoon at Red Auerbach Arena. 

The loss drops Vassar to 2-3 on the season. The Brewers will look to snap a three-game losing streak on Tuesday, December 1 at SUNY New Paltz. Brandeis, ranked No. 22 nationally in the latest d3hoops.com poll, improves to 3-1 and travels to Clark on December 1. 

With sophomore guard Caleb McGraw scoring 17 of his game-high 31 points in the first half, the Brewers kept the contest close for the first 14 minutes of the game, trading baskets – due to McGraw's tenacious start – with a Brandeis team that connected on seven of its first ten field goals. When sophomore guard Nick Justiz drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key, the Brewers drew within 25-21 with 6:15 to play, but Vassar would never get closer than that four point deficit. 

The game's fortunes changed in a snap, because in a tad under two minutes, Brandeis went on a 9-0 run, building a 34-21 lead that only grew larger as the game progressed. Following the Justiz basket, the Judges scored back-to-back three point plays that came off two of their seven offensive rebounds. Senior center Rich Magee followed his own missed shot to convert the first three-point play. Sophomore forward Vytas Kriskus corralled a missed shot from teammate Andre Robinson for his three-point play and the deciding blow came off a traditional 3-pointer by senior guard John Weldon. 

The Brewers never recovered from that blitz and Brandeis went into halftime with a comfortable 38-26 lead. 

The Judges went on a 13-5 spurt to start the second half, building a 51-31 lead with 13:37 to play. With McGraw producing all the offensive output, the Brewers managed only 10 points in the first 12 minutes of the second half. For the game, McGraw had 11 of Vassar's 18 field goals and took 24 of the Brewers' 52 shots. Two of Vassar's seven field goals came from Justiz, and two came off the bench from junior guard Tyler Maland who tallied his first collegiate points with two 3-pointers in the second half. 

Brandeis used a balanced combination of points off turnovers, second chance points and points in the paint to control the contest. The Judges tallied 28 points off a season-high 22 Vassar turnovers, scored 14 points off second chance opportunities and had 29 points come from bench play. 

McGraw's 31-point outing was the second 30-pointer of his career (following his 37 point effort against Endicott). Maland had six points and Justiz five. Sophomore John Donnelly had six rebounds for the Brewers. 

Brandeis senior forward Terrell Holland led the Judges with 19 points in an efficiently played 18 minutes. He had 12 of those points in the first half and was 7 for 9 from the floor and 5 of 6 from the line. Kriskus added 16 points and sophomore guard Tyrone Hughes had 10 points. All but one Brandeis player landed in the scoring column.