SCHNECTADY, NY (January 2, 2015) – Vassar finished with a season-high 88 points, including 53 in the second half, as the Brewers notched a 88-80 road victory over Union College in its Liberty League opener Friday evening. Senior Alex Snyder (Rutland, VT/Rutland) finished with a team-high 23 points, his highest total since the season opener, while junior Erikson Wasyl (Durham, CT/Coginchaug) and senior Luka Ladan (Belmont, MA/Belmont) tallied 17 and 16 points (respectively) to pace the Brewers to their first conference victory of the season. VC moves to 4-5 on the year and 1-0 in the Liberty League with the win, while Union drops to 6-4 on the season (0-1 LL) with the loss.

Down 33-36 to start the second half, the Brewers came out of the gate firing starting with a pair of back-to-back three pointers from Wasyl. A layup from Snyder with  17:46 left to play put the Brewers ahead for the first time since the 19:06 mark in the first half, 43-41. Consecutive layups from Union's Ryan Whelpley had the hosts ahead 45-43 with 16:07 remaining, but freshman Tony Caletti (Mill Valley, CA/Branson) came up with a big time answer for the Brewers, nailing a triple at the 15:47 mark to pull his side back ahead 46-45.

The Brewers never surrendered the lead again, slowly building upon their advantage throughout the remainder of the half with a combination of sharp three point and free throw shooting. VC shot a season-best 55.6% from beyond the arc sinking 10-18 attempts, while also converting a season-high 18 free throws on 28 trips to the line.

The Dutchmen got as close as three at after a layup from Kevin Weckworth made it 73-70 with 3:03 to play. However the Brewers responded, as two free throws from Ladan and a three pointer from Wasyl put the visitors back up by eight. VC took care of business down the stretch to hold off Union and claim its first victory over the Dutchmen since January 7, 2012.

Vassar played from behind early in the game, down 14-5 through the first five minutes of the contest. Down 5-18, Vassar fought back, going on a 10-0 run over the next several minutes to come within reach of the Dutchmen lead. A layup from senior Andrew Adkins (Richmond, VA/Steward School) got the Brewers started at the 13:13 mark, while a triple from senior Curtis Smith (Mastic, NY/Eastport South Manor) made it 10-18 with 12:54 to play in the half. A layup from Snyder cut the deficit to six, while a three ball from Wasyl had VC within three with 11:45 to go in the half.

Ryan Whelpley finally halted the run for Union at the 10:03 mark, pushing his team's advantage to 25-19. The teams traded baskets throughout the rest of the half, and the Brewers trailed by as many as 10 with less than six minutes to play. A late push put Vassar back into position, starting with a three pointer from Caletti to cut the Union lead to 27-34 at the 5:37 mark. The teams traded a pair of buckets, before a layup from Ladan and jumper from Smith had the Brewers down only 33-36 with 3:38 remaining in the half.

Both sides swapped baskets before the half, and the Brewers found themselves down only 35-38 heading into the locker room.

Vassar will be right back at it tomorrow afternoon to face Skidmore College at 4:00 pm in Saratoga Springs, NY. The Thoroughbreds defeated RIT 78-66 tonight it its conference opener.

-VASSAR-