BENNINGTON, VT (December 10, 2014) - Southern Vermont junior Deshawn Hamlet scored 23 points, while four other Mountaineers finished in double figures as SVT knocked off Vassar 83-72 Wednesday evening. Senior Curtis Smith (Mastic, NY/Eastport South Manor) scored a game-high and career-best 24 points on 7-for-12 shooting, but the Brewers could not mount a comeback and drop to 3-5 on the season with the loss. Southern Vermont improves to 7-2 on the year with its fifth straight victory.

Up three to start the second half, Southern Vermont got busy building on its advantage in the half's opening minutes. A three pointer from junior William Bromirski at the 19:04 mark gave the hosts a 40-34 lead, before Smith got the points back on the other end making a trio of free throws after a foul beyond the arc.

A series of Vassar turnovers and fouls lead to possessions for the Mountaineers in the early goings of the half, and after two free throws junior Jeff James at the 16:09 mark the Brewers found themselves down 10. VC fought to stay alive in the game, as a Tony Caletti (Mill Valley, CA/Branson) three ball and free throw from senior Alex Snyder (Rutland, VT/Rutland) had the visitors down only 54-48 with 13:01 to play.

Vassar got as close as five points from tying in the half, after a layup from junior Erikson Wasyl (Durham, CT/Coginchaug) made it 56-51 with 9:34 left in regulation. However, the Mountaineers caught fire offensively from that point on, going on a 17-8 run over the next five minutes to bust the game wide open. Southern Vermont thwarted any late runs from the Brewers, and ran out the clock to claim the 11-point victory.

Vassar and Southern Vermont traded baskets throughout the first half, as neither side was able to go on a defining run to pull ahead. The Brewers made a statement early, as Smith hit a jumper and three pointer to put his team up 5-0 to start. VC continued to lead through the opening minutes, before a layup from SVT's Nate Goldsmith tied the game at nine at the 14:10 mark.

Caletti quickly put the Brewers back ahead with a triple on the other end, but the Mountaineers had the answer with a three ball of their own from Goldsmith seconds later. Antoine White gave the Mountaineers their first lead of the game with a layup at the 13:03 mark, but the Brewers were able to even the score line and later go ahead with a layup from Snyder at the 11:31 mark.

The game went back and forth continuously down the stretch of the first half, and VC led as late as the 1:28 mark after a layup from freshman John Madsen (Needham, MA/Needham) had his squad ahead 34-33. The Mountaineers were able to execute in the final seconds, getting a layup from Hamlet and then another junior Casey Hall at the buzzer to take a 37-34 lead into the locker room.

SVT's depth was on display in the game, as the Mountaineers' bench outscored Vassar 40-5. Wasyl and Caletti both finished with 11 points each, while Snyder posted his second double-double of the season with 14 points and 14 rebounds. Vassar's 51.0% shooting pct. was the best for the Brewers in a loss this season.

Vassar will enter an extended hiatus over the next several weeks for the end of the semester and holiday season, before returning to action in January. The Brewers will tip-off the New Year with a Liberty League matchup against Union College in Schenectady, NY on January 2, 2015.

-VASSAR-