Box Score
Game Program

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (November 17, 2010) -- The Vassar College men's basketball team jumped out to an early lead and maintained it for the duration as the Brewers won their home-opener against Bard College 62-48 on Wednesday night at the Athletics and Fitness Center.

The Brewers (1-1) host Hunter College this Tuesday, November 23 at 6 p.m. at the AFC. The Raptors (0-1) will face Rivier College this Friday, November 19 at 6:00 p.m. in the Rivier College Tip-Off Tournament. Bard College will join the Liberty League next season.

Bard cut the lead to six points at 43-37 with 3:06 remaining in the second half thanks to a scrappy defensive effort that produced six consecutive stops to spark an 11-0 run. A breakaway layup after a steal, and a pullup jumper by sophomore Frank Sortini put Bard within eight points at 43-35. Following a pair of free throws by senior Matt Shubert to pull Bard within six points, junior captain Nick Justiz nailed a triple to end the Raptor run.

Sophomore guard Jon Herzog converted two free throws pump the lead back to double digits, which it had been for most of the game. Consecutive breakaway layups by sophomore John Donnelly, following steals by himself and junior Caleb McGraw, iced the game as the Brewers snatched a 15 point lead with less than a minute to play. The Brewers then traded free throws for a couple Sortini jumpers and a triple by Shubert to end with Vassar ahead 62-48.

The Brewer's raced to a 17-4 lead to begin the game with a pair of threes by freshman Evan Carberry to bookend the run. Vassar nurtured a double digit lead for most of the game as the Raptors gambled on three-pointers and shot 6-22 from beyond the arc. Vassar used its size advantage to draw fouls inside and shot 22-30 from the line to account for over one third of its points. A disciplined Vassar defense limited Bard to a 23.1 shooting percentage in the first half and a 31.4 shot percentage for the game. The Brewers shot 36.2 percent from the field and received 24 points off the bench, compared to Bard who relied on starters for all of its scoring.

Shubert and Stortini paced the Raptors with 14 points each. Stortini posted a team high nine rebounds and three assists.

Donnelly led the Brewers in points and rebounds with a 24 point, 10 rebound double double on 7-15 shooting. Justiz added 19 points by shooting 6-8 from the field including 4-6 from beyond the arc.