NEW PALTZ, NY (November 21, 2013) – The Vassar College men's basketball team defeated SUNY New Paltz, 73-61 Thursday evening at the Hawk Center. The win snaps a six-year streak against the Hawks without a win and is the first time since 2004 that the Brewers have won at New Paltz. It is only the third time in the series that Vassar has won at the Hawk Center.

    Sophomore guard Erikson Wasyl (Durham, CT/Coginchaug) hit a 3-pointer with 4:23 left in the first half, starting a Vassar 9-5 run, ending the first period with a Brewer 31-28 lead.

    The Hawks came out of halftime and tied the game, 31-31 with a 3-pointer from Nick Taldi just under one minute into play. A trifecta by sophomore guard Johnny Mrlik (San Francisco, CA/St. Ignatius College Prep) put the Brewers back on top, 34-31.

    Taylor Sowah put in a layup just 20 seconds later and hit a jumper with 14:53 remaining in regulation, marking the two closest moments the Hawks would come to tying the game for the rest of the second half, 34-33 and 39-38.

    Leading by two points with 11:28 remaining after a good layup by the Hawks' RJ Rosa, the Brewers went on a 16-3 rampage run that was highlighted by junior forward Luka Ladan's (Belmont, MA/Belmont) jumper, tip-in and two free throws that gave Vassar a 15-point lead, 62-47. The Brewers led by as much as 16 points on the way to the victory.

    The Brewers shot 13-for-28 from 3-point land (46.4%) and hit 12-of-17 from the free throw line (70.6%). Leading the 3-point assault were guards Curtis Smith (Mastic, NY/Eastport South Manor) who was 3-for-5 on the night, Wasyl who nailed 4-of-7 and Mrlik who added another four. Senior forward Evan Carberry (Metuchen, NJ/Metuchen) and junior guard Andrew Adkins (Richmond, VA/Steward School) also added a 3-pointer each.

    Ladan hit 5-of-6 from the line with Mrlik adding 3-of-4 and Adkins going a perfect 2-for-2. Smith sunk two of his four free throws.

    Mrlik was the game-high scorer and rebounder with a near double-double. He scored 21 points while pulling down nine boards. He also added seven assists, two steals and one block. Wasyl managed 16 points and two assists, Smith put up 15 points and snagged two rebounds and Ladan hit for 13 points and six boards. Adkins' five points were paired with his three pulls and one assist.

    Sowah led the Hawks with 15 points and six rebounds while Taldi hit 5-for-9 for 14 points. New Paltz only shot 2-for-14 from the 3-point line (14.29%) and 9-for-27 in field goals (33.3%) for the first half. The Hawks totaled percentages of 38.6% in field goals, 35.0% from behind the arc and 71.4% from the charity line.

    The Brewers (2-1) will next host Western Connecticut State University on Tuesday, November 26 at 7:00 pm. The Hawks (2-1) will next host Delaware Valley College on Saturday, November 23 at 4:00 pm.

--VASSAR--