Box Score

    ROCHESTER, NY (February 7, 2014) – The Vassar College men's basketball team outscored a tough, host Rochester Institute of Technology 50-41 in the second half of play, but it would not be enough to overcome the first half deficit in the Brewers' 88-78 Liberty League loss Friday evening in Clark Gymnasium.

    Despite the solid second half scoring by the Brewers (15-4, 7-3 Liberty League), RIT (12-7, 6-4 Liberty League) bolstered a 47-28 halftime lead over the visiting Vassar squad with the help of Miguel Lopez's 15 points, going 6-of-9 from the floor. Lopez also was a perfect 1-for-1 from beyond the three-point arc and 2-of-2 from the free throw line. Nine other Tigers scored in the first half.

    Vassar's second half comeback was keyed by a 37-24 run, spanning 12 minutes and bringing the Brewers within five points, 75-80. Sophomore Johnny Mrlik (San Francisco, CA/St. Ignatius College Preparatory) scored 12 of his 22, game-high points in that spree. Sophomore Erikson Wasyl (Durham, CT/Coginchaug) also scored the majority of his game total in the run, hitting three three-pointers and a layup for 11 of his 13 points.

    RIT shut down any hopes of a Vassar victory with an 8-3 run in the final 58 seconds of play and walking away with the critical 88-78 win.

    Junior Alex Snyder (Rutland, VT/Rutland) led the Brewers with eight boards and added 16 points while junior Curtis Smith (Mastic, NY/Eastport South Manor) posted 10 in Vassar's scoring effort. The Brewers totaled 50 percent from the floor (30-of-60), 34.8 percent (8-of-23) from the three-point arc and 52.6 percent (10-of-19) from the charity line.

    Jameel Balenton led the RIT scoring with 19 points. He was supplemented by J.P. Reagan's 17 tallies and Lopez's 16. Kamron Davis led the pressure under the boards with seven rebounds. The Tigers shot 49.2 percent (31-of-63) from the field, 40 percent (8-of-20) from three-point land and 81.8 percent (18-of-22) from the free throw line.

    The Brewers will next travel to Hobart College in Geneva, NY for Saturday's 4:00 pm start. RIT will host Bard College at 4:00 pm as well.