Box Score

CLINTON, NY (December 10, 2011) -- The Vassar College men's basketball team tied the game twice in a close first half but couldn't overcome a 47-38 halftime deficit in a 96-71 loss to Hamilton College on Saturday at Scott Field House.

Vassar managed a 26-26 tie with 7:45 left in the first half but Hamilton surged for an 11-0 run for a 37-26 lead with 4:37 remaining. The Continentals shot an efficient 63.0 percent from the field and 70.6 from 3-point range while Vassar mustered 38.7 percent from the floor.

The Brewers (4-3) return from a winter hiatus with a road game against Wheaton College on January 3 at 6:00 p.m. The Continentals (9-1) face New York University on the road on December 30 at 8:00 p.m.

Down 11 points at 44-33 with 2:00 left in the first half, Vassar pulled within six points with a 5-0 run behind a triple from sophomore Sam Rappaport and a jumper by classmate Evan Carberry. Hamilton's Pat Sullivan nailed a three with seconds remaining for a 47-38 Continental lead at intermission.

The Continentals took control of the game early in the second stanza with a 5-0 run to push the lead to 52-38. Hamilton led by double-digits for the remainder of the contest. The lead dipped in the 20-point range and reached an apex of 27 points at 96-71 with 1:39 remaining.

Vassar freshman Johnny Mrlik came off the bench to lead the Brewers in scoring for the third consecutive game with 18 points. Junior Jon Herzog and sophomore Sam Rappaport also reached double-figures in scoring with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Freshman Alex Snyder tied for a game-high nine rebounds and posted seven points.

Sullivan tallied 30 points on 12-for-15 shooting and pulled down nine boards. Greg Newton dished a game-high eight assists and posted 12 points.