Box Score

CLINTON, NY (December 6, 2014) – Senior Luka Ladan (Belmont, MA/Belmont) scored a career-high 27 points, as Vassar held off Hamilton College 79-74 in a wild overtime clash Saturday afternoon. Freshman Tony Caletii (Mill Valley, CA/Branson) also posted a career-best in the game, scoring 18 points with 12 coming in the second half to pace the Brewers. VC hit a season-high 11 three pointers in the contest, while shooting 50.9% from the floor. The win moves Vassar to 3-4 on the season, while Hamilton drops its first game of the year to move to 7-1.

Despite Vassar leading by 17 points with under nine minutes to play in the second half, Hamilton slowly made its way back into game. Senior Joseph Lin got the Continentals going on the offensive end, hitting two free throws and then a layup to make it 58-45 at the 7:34 mark. A layup from senior Peter Kazickas cut the Brewer advantage to 11, but Caletti was able to respond on the other end with a triple at the 6:11 mark.

Hamilton refused to go away, piecing together a 14-2 run over the next four and half minutes to come within two points of the Brewers. Ladan finally stopped the drought with a free throw at the 1:45 mark, putting his team ahead 64-61. The Continentals were able to get to the line again with 1:13 to play, and junior Ajani Santos swished both attempts from the charity stripe to cut VC's lead to 64-63.

Senior Curtis Smith (Mastic, NY/Eastport South Manor) was able to get to the line with 29 seconds to play, but made only one freebie to keep it a two point game. After his second attempt rattled off the iron, Hamilton quickly brought the ball up the court and found sophomore Kyle Pitman open at the top of the key. Pitman drilled his open look from beyond the arc, giving the Continentals a 66-65 lead; their first since the 10:21 mark in the first half.

A turnover on the ensuing possession for Vassar led to a quick layup on the other end for the hosts, and the Brewers found themselves down 68-65 with 13 second left. Smith chucked up a desperation three with eight seconds left, which deflected off the rim into the hands of Ladan. He quickly found Caletti on the left side of the arc, who put up a last second prayer. After the ball initially bounced high off the rim, a Hamilton player tipped the ball while it was coming down within the cylinder, forcing the referees to call basket interference and count the three points. Regulation ended with the game tied 68-68 as the teams headed into overtime.

The squads traded buckets back and forth through the opening minutes of OT, before Ladan was again fouled underneath to earn a trip to the line with 0:42 to play. Ladan broke the 74-74 tie making both of his shots, as the Brewers looked to make one more stop up two.

A three point attempt went off the iron and back into the hands of Ladan, who was quickly fouled. He made 1-of-2 from the charity stripe to give the Brewers a 77-74 advantage, and the Continentals again couldn't convert on the offensive end on their ensuing possession. Senior Alex Snyder (Rutland, VT/Rutland) and Ladan padded the lead with two more free throws in the closing seconds, as VC held on to claim their first road victory of the season 79-74.

Vassar was able to pull away and take a lead in the first half at the 9:46 mark, as a three pointer from junior Erikson Wasyl (Durham, CT/Coginchaug) put his team up 20-17. The Brewers remained ahead for the rest of the half, and took a 32-27 lead into the locker room.

Snyder finished with 16 points and a team-high nine rebounds, while all 12 of Wasyl's points came from beyond the arc.

Vassar will look to carry today's momentum into next Wednesday, when the Brewers travel to face Southern Vermont College at 7:00 pm.