POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (February 27, 2014) – The #2 Vassar College men's basketball team will head to Geneva, NY to face #1 Hobart College for the Liberty League Championship Title on Saturday with hopes of extending its already special season.

Game Details
Opponent: Hobart College (20-6, 13-3 Liberty League)
Site: Geneva, NY
Facility: Bristol Gymnasium (1,500)
Date: March 1, 2014
Time: 4:00 pm
Live Stats
Live Video

What to Look For
The Brewers (19-7, 10-6 Liberty League) are now the solo owners of the Vassar College record for most wins in a season after they won their first ever Liberty League playoff game Wednesday night. Vassar defeated #3 Skidmore 66-62 at the Athletics and Fitness Center. Johnny Mrlik (San Francisco, CA/St. Ignatius College Preparatory) was the top scorer for the Brewers with 18 points. He led four others in double-digits. Luka Ladan (Belmont, MA/Belmont), Erikson Wasyl (Durham, CT/Coginchaug), Curtis Smith (Mastic, NY/Eastport South Manor) and Alex Snyder (Rutland, VT/Rutland) recorded 12, 11, 10 and 10 points, respectively. Snyder also pulled in 12 boards for his 10th double-double of the year.

Mrlik paves the way in scoring with 18.8 points a night. Ladan and Wasyl follow with 12.6 and 12.2 a game, respectively. Snyder is scoring 10.7 a contest while pulling in a team-high 9.1 boards. Mrlik grabs 6.0 rebounds and Ladan is averaging 5.6 a show. Wasyl and Snyder are the shot helpers on the team. The sophomore guard has pushed 73 assists this season and the junior forward has dumped off 70.

The Brewers are averaging 72.8 points per game while giving only 67.0. Vassar is shooting 48.3 percent from the floor and 40.1 percent from the three-point arc. The Brewers' free throw shooters average 70.0 percent. The players pull in 38.8 rebounds a game and also dish out 13.2 assists.

A Look at the Statesmen
After Clarkson's John Coleman hit a pair of free throws with 1:07 left to tie the game 63-63, Hobart's defense forced two turnovers and sent the game into extra minutes. The Statesmen opened the overtime period with a 6-0 run and finished on a 5-0 spree, clinching the 78-69 win and securing the home championship game. Richie Bonney paved the way for the Statesmen with 23 points and 14 rebounds.

Bonney is scoring 20.1 points per game and is pulling in 11.4 boards. He also leads the Statesmen with 31 blocks in 26 games. Connor Rehbaum is averaging 14.5 tallies while Joe Gibbons and Trey Blanding supplement the scoring with 14.1 and 10.9 points per contest, respectively.

Hobart is registering 76.2 a showing while allowing 69.7 from its opponents. The Statesmen shoot 74.0 percent from the charity line, 46.5 percent from the floor and 35.3 percent from three-point land. They average 16.5 assists and 36.8 rebounds per game.

Against Hobart All-Time
The Vassar-Hobart series has the scales tipped in favor of the Statesmen. Hobart has won the previous 13 meetings with an overall record against the Brewers of 24-2. Vassar hasn't defeated Hobart since 2008 in a 78-73 victory and has never won at Bristol Gymnasium. The Brewers were narrowly defeated in the last crossing, 63-61 on January 17 at the AFC and then again, 68-52 at Bristol Gym.

Second Half
The Brewers have out-scored opponents 18 times this season in the second half. Out of those 18 games, Vassar has only lost two.

Past 10 Games
The Brewers have averaged 77.4 points in their last 10 meetings. They have given up 74.0. Hobart has allowed 63.9 points per game and scored 71.1 points.

Shoot On Our Defense?
Vassar's defense leads the League in field goal percentage. They only allow 37.8 percent of shots to find net. This statistic is also good enough for eighth best in the country.

#2 In Rankings, #1 In A Lot
Vassar's defensive pressure on floor shots isn't the only thing that leads the Liberty League. The Brewers' defense allows only 67.0 points per game. Vassar shooters hit for 48.3 percent from the floor and 40.1 percent from three-point land. Vassar's arc-specialists continue to do work on the defensive side, allowing balls to be netted 30.2 percent of the time in a League that averages 34 percent. The Brewers also pull in the most defensive rebounds a game, averaging 29.4.

Up Next
If the Brewers win, they will next make preparations for the NCAA Tournament. The selection show process will take place on Monday, March 3 at 12:30 pm with the first round slated to take place on Thursday, March 6.