Game Program

    POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (January 21, 2014) – Junior forward Luka Ladan (Belmont, MA/Belmont) came off the bench and scored a game and career-high 25 points, leading the Vassar College men's basketball team to a 66-59 Liberty League home win against Bard College Tuesday evening from the Athletics and Fitness Center.

    Ladan was 10-of-15 from the floor while adding a 5-of-6 performance from the free throw line and four rebounds to his résumé of the night. He led two other Brewers in double-figures. Sophomore Johnny Mrlik (San Francisco, CA/St. Ignatius College Preparatory) and junior guard Curtis Smith (Mastic, NY/Eastport South Manor) had 19 and 10 points, respectively.

    The Raptors (5-8, 0-4 Liberty League) edged into a six-point lead 23-17 with Lamar Powell's eight points in the first half. The Brewers (11-3, 3-2) returned the favor with a 9-3 run that ended the half, 26-26. Ladan, Smith and senior forward Evan Carberry (Metuchen, NJ/Metuchen) teamed for the game-tying run.

    The Brewers gained their third lead of the game when Ladan made a layup at 38-36 with 13:36 remaining and in the middle of a Vassar 16-6 run that ultimately put them up 44-38 with 10:47 left.

    Bard brought the score back to within two, 44-42 after Powell made a pair of charity shots and a layup following the Vassar run. The Brewers, sensing the pressure, managed to create opportunities for Mrlik to find his most comfortable spot on the court…the free throw stripe.

    Mrlik was sent to the line for a total of 12 free throws in the final seven minutes of play. He made all 12 and was 13-of-14 for the night for a new career-high after his 9-of-9 charity line shooting at Roger Williams back on November 16, 2013. His efforts from the line, along with a layup, sealed the deal for the remaining ticks of the game clock as Vassar went on for the win.

    Sophomore guard Erikson Wasyl (Durham, CT/Coginchaug) was 2-of-2 from the free throw line as well on the evening for the Brewers. Carberry pulled in a game-high eight rebounds and added four tallies while junior forward Alex Snyder (Rutland, VT/Rutland) pulled down seven boards. Mrlik also added in seven caroms.

    Powell was Bard's high-scorer with 19 while also dishing out a game-high three assists. Siondueh Burnette supplemented Powell's efforts with 17 points and five boards.

    The Raptors finished the night with averages of 38.5 percent field goals, 28.6 percent three-pointers and 78.9 percent from the line. The Brewers shot 48.9 percent from the floor, 20 percent from three-point land and 87 percent from charity.

    The Brewers will next host Clarkson University on Friday evening at 8:00 pm while Bard will entertain St. Lawrence University at the same time.