Box Score

    SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY (January 10, 2014) – The Vassar College men's basketball team opened its 2014 Liberty League schedule with a 71-66 win on the road at Skidmore College Friday evening at the Williamson Sports Center.

    Sophomore guards Erikson Wasyl (Durham, CT/Coginchaug) and Johnny Mrlik (San Francisco, CA/St. Ignatius College Preparatory) both keyed the Brewers'(9-1, 1-0 LL) offensive performance with 18 points each. Wasyl hit 6-of-9 three-point attempts while Mrlik was a solid 7-of-8 from the free throw line. Junior forward Luka Ladan (Belmont, MA/Belmont) came off the bench for 11 points while showing a flawless stand at the charity line, going 3-of-3.

    The Brewers entered halftime with a score of 32-31 in favor of the host Thoroughbreds (7-4, 1-1 LL) but fought back with a 40-34 second half outing. A 13-4 run that spanned just above three minutes of play in the second half is what gave Vassar some breathing room and a five-point lead, 47-42 after being down 38-36 with 17:07 remaining.

    The run was led by the combination of Ladan's seven points, Mrlik's three points and Wasyl's matching three tallies.

    Erik Sanders hit back-to-back free throws and then a three-pointer to tie the game at 47 for Skidmore. Aldin Medunjanin sunk two more three-pointers that gave the Thoroughbreds a 53-49 lead.

    Mrlik totaled 13 of Vassar's final 18 points that earned the Brewers their first win over Skidmore College since 2009. Wasyl hit a three in the run while junior forward Alex Snyder (Rutland, VT/Rutland) put in a layup as well.

    Snyder was perfect from the line with a 2-and-2 outing. He also led the game in rebounds with 13 and added another game-best of four blocked shots. Snyder and junior guard Andrew Adkins (Richmond, VA/Steward School) both scored eight points.

    Skidmore had four players in double-figures, led by Perun Kovacevic with 16, Sanders with 15, Medunjanin with 14 and Connor Merrill with 11.

    The Brewers will next travel to face Union College at 4:00 pm tomorrow afternoon. Skidmore will host Hobart College at 4:00 pm, rounding out the weekend tomorrow.