Box Score
Game Program

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (January 18, 2011) -- The Vassar College men's basketball team played a competitive first half but fell victim to devastating runs at the end of each period in a 72-46 loss to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Tuesday evening at the Athletics and Fitness Center.

RPI closed out the first half with an 11-1 run after a 24-24 tie and iced the game on a 24-4 tear that spanned the final 10 minutes of the game. The Engineers shot 10-22 (45.5%) from beyond the arc to 4-14 (28.6%) for the Brewers.

The Brewers (3-11, 1-2 Liberty) host Hobart this Friday, January 21 at 8:00 p.m. and Hamilton on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. at the Athletics and Fitness Center. The Engineers (9-4, 3-0 Liberty) host Hamilton on Friday at 8:00 and Hobart on Saturday at 4:00 at the East Campus Arena.

Trailing 24-19 with 5:46 remaining, the Brewers pushed the ball up court and freshman Sam Rappaport finished with a fast break layup. The Brewers earned another defensive stop on the subsequent possession and converted it into a triple by sophomore Jon Herzog to tie the game at 24-24. RPI senior guard Andrew Darst hit two free throws on the next possession to begin the 11-1 run culminating with a 35-25 halftime lead. RPI shot 4-7 from the floor during the stretch.

In the second half, the Brewers pulled within six points at 48-42 with 10:49 remaining on back to back jumpers from junior guard Caleb McGraw and a free throw by Herzog. The Engineers scored on the next five possessions to build the lead to 59-42 with 8:09 remaining. The Engineer surge swelled to a 24-4 run, resulting in a 72-46 finish.

RPI turned nine second half Brewer turnovers into 12 points and found 20 points off the bench. In all, RPI held a 19-6 advantage in points off turnovers and a 34-12 advantage in bench points.

Vassar junior forward John Donnelly tied for a game high 14 points and pulled down seven rebounds. McGraw posted nine points and four rebounds. Senior captain Chris Whitney chipped in with eight points and five rebounds.

Senior guard Travis Jones led RPI with 14 points and Darst posted a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double.