POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (January 12, 2015) – Vassar tied its season-high with 11 three pointers made, as the Brewers downed Maritime College 64-57 Monday afternoon in its final non-conference game of the regular season. Junior Erikson Wasyl (Durham, CT/Coginchaug) led the way for VC with a season-best 22 points, which included five buckets from the beyond the arc. Senior Alex Snyder (Rutland, VT/Rutland) posted his fifth double-double of the year finishing with 13 points and 15 rebounds (season-high), while fellow senior Curtis Smith (Mastic, NY/Eastport South Manor) posted 14 points. Vassar moves to 5-7 on the season with the victory, while Maritime drops to 3-8 in the defeat.

The Brewers had to dig themselves out of a hole early, as the visiting Privateers raced out to an 11-2 lead in the opening minutes. However, VC was able to get things settled on the defensive end after the 15:34 mark, not allowing a field goal for over five minutes. Wasyl lit it up for the Brewers on the other end, hitting two three pointers to bring the hosts within three with 11:52 to play. After a pair of Maritime free throws, freshman Tony Caletti (Mill Valley, VA/Branson) nailed a triple to make it 13-11, but a three-ball from T'Vaughn Gibson has the Privateers ahead by five with 10:30 left. 

Vassar took its first lead of the game with 8:20 on the clock, as Wasyl hit another three pointer to put his team up 19-16. The Brewers extended the lead over the next few minutes on back-to-back layups from Snyder, before Maritime's Isaiah Hayes made a free throw to halt the VC run and make it 23-17. 

Vassar would hit two more three pointers and a free throw before the half, and carried a 30-26 advantage into the start of the second half.

Vassar never trailed in the second, using a combination of stifling defense and sharp shooting to neutralize any comeback bids from Maritime. The Brewers shot 47.8% from the field in the half, hitting four more three pointers while getting solid looks underneath the basket.

Maritime's best chance at taking the lead came late in the game, jump-started by an and-one layup from Hayes with 5:38 to play. After hitting the free throw, VC led 58-53 and a few possessions later a Gibson jumper had the Privateers within three with 4:42 remaining.

A turnover on the ensuing press break gave the ball right back to Maritime, and a layup from John Liccese cut Vassar's led to just 58-57 with 3:54 remaining. Wasyl stepped up for the Brewers on the other end, driving to the hoop and laying in an important bucket to put his side back up by three, 60-57 with 2:52 on the clock.

The teams traded possessions back and forth over the next several minutes, with neither squad able to sink a shot. Vassar did enough down the stretch to hold off the Privateers, playing tight defense and making four free throws in the final minute to earn the 64-57 victory.

T'Vaughn Gibson tied with Wasyl for the game-high in points, as the senior guard/forward finished with 22. Maritime edged Vassar on the boards 37-36, while both teams committed just nine turnovers.

Vassar will resume Liberty League play with a doubleheader this weekend, starting with a matchup with Hobart College at 8:00 pm in Geneva, NY on Friday. The Brewers will then travel to Rochester to face RIT at 4:00 pm on Saturday to wrap up the weekend.

-VASSAR-