POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (January 21, 2015) – The Vassar men's basketball team (5-9, 1-4 Liberty League) will host its first Liberty League doubleheader this weekend, starting with a matchup with St. Lawrence University on January 23 before facing Clarkson University on January 24.
 
Game Details
Opponent: St. Lawrence (7-7, 2-4 LL)
Links:  (St. Lawrence Men's Basketball Homepage) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
Site: Poughkeepsie, NY
Facility: Athletics and Fitness Center
Date: January 23, 2015
Time: 8:00 pm
Game Coverage: (Live Stats) (Live Video)
 
Opponent: Clarkson (11-3, 4-1 LL)
Links:  (Clarkson Men's Basketball Homepage) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
Site: Poughkeepsie, NY
Facility: Athletics and Fitness Center
Date: January 24, 2015
Time: 4:00 pm
Game Coverage: (Live Stats) (Live Video)
 
What to Look For:
The Brewers will attempt to rebound after a tough two loss weekend in the Liberty League on January 16 & 17. At 1-4 in the conference, Vassar now has its work cut out to thrust itself back into the playoff picture. 
 
Last Time Out:
Four different RIT players finished in double figures, led by junior JP Reagan's 18 points, as the Tigers came out ahead of Vassar 73-63 January 17. The day prior, a 15-0 Hobart run in the second half spanning over four minutes keyed a 65-56 win for the Statesmen over the Vassar. Senior Connor Rehbaum had a game-high 27 points for Hobart, while the Statesmen finished 15-20 from the charity stripe to hold on for their eighth win of the season.
 
A Look at the Saints (7-7, 2-4 Liberty League):
Despite a .500 record St. Lawrence has stumbled in Liberty League competition, coming into Friday with a 2-4 conference record dropping four out of its past five games. The Saints have played well in stretches, winning four straight games between December 6 and January 2 starting with a 78-74 win over Ithaca. SLU took down Elmira and SUNY-Potsdam, before opening Liberty League play and the New Year with a 73-68 win over RPI to cap the win streak at four.
 
St. Lawrence has been one of the most efficient ball-handling teams in the nation, ranking 20^th in the country as of January 18 in fewest turnovers (156, 11.1/game). Sophomore Willie Zachery has been a dynamic guard for the Saints this season, as he ranks second on the team in scoring (13.9 PPG) and first in assists (3.4 APG), while chipping in 4.4 rebounds and a league-leading 90.8 free throw percentage.  Senior Brady Condlin will also be a threat to score and bang on the boards, as the 6-5 forward is averaging a team-high 14.9 PPG and 7.2 RPG in 2014-15. 
 
Against St. Lawrence All-Time:
Vassar is 10-19 all-time against St. Lawrence since the series began in 2001, but the Brewers have had the upper hand in recent years. VC has won five straight games against the Saints since February 11, 2012, including a season sweep of the series last season.
 
A Look at the Golden Knights (11-3, 4-1 Liberty League):
Clarkson enters the weekend riding a two-game winning streak while winning four out of its last five games in the Liberty League. After facing Bard College on the road at 8:00 pm on Saturday, The Golden Knights will wrap up the weekend with a tilt against the Brewers. Clarkson currently occupies the second spot in the conference standings, and has been highly effective taking care of the basketball under first year head coach Jess Gorski. CU currently ranks 14^th in the country in assist to turnover ratio (1.37) and sixth in assists per game (17.0), while allowing only 60.9 points per game to opponents.
 
Part of Clarkson's success this season can be attributed to the play of senior John Coleman, who leads the Liberty League in scoring with 18.8 PPG. The 6-4 forward is tied for the lead in rebounds (6.4 RPG) for the Golden Knights, while also racking up 2.3 steals and 1.5 assists per contest. Junior Felix Abongo has also been a factor, averaging 12.9 points along with 6.4 rebounds in 14 games for Clarkson this season.
 
Against Clarkson All-Time:
VC is 11-17 in the all-time series between the schools, and 2-3 in the past five meetings. The Brewers split the regular season series last year, first besting the Golden Knights 69-51 at home, before falling 75-77 on the road in overtime on February 22, 2014.
 
Freshman Firepower:
Playing in just his third game of the season against RIT, freshman Jesse Browne (Barrington, RI/Deerfield Academy) wasted no time making an impact scoring 12 points in each half to finish with a game-high 24. Browne shot .667 from the floor on 10 of 15 made baskets; including 4-6 made from beyond the arc. His 24 points were the most in a game by a freshman since Johnny Mrlik (San Francisco, CA/St. Ignatius College Prep) scored 32 against RPI on February 7, 2012, and his continued efficiency could prove invaluable to VC at an important part of the season. 
 
Dare to Share:
Vassar racked up 17 assists against RIT on January 17; the team's most in a game since starting Liberty League play. VC posted a season-high 20 assists in a 79-74 OT victory over Hamilton College on December 6.
 
900 Club:
Senior Alex Snyder (Rutland, VT/Rutland) became just the eighth Brewer since 2000 to eclipse 900 career points after scoring 13 against RIT on January 17. Snyder has 911 points in 89 career games, and will have an opportunity to move further up the all-time ranks over remaining weeks of the season.    
 
Elite Company:
Snyder is one of two players in Vassar basketball history to accumulate at least 900 points, 700 rebounds, 200 assists and 80 blocks during his career in the burgundy and gray. The only other Brewer to accomplish the feat is Lawrence Avitabile ('09), who finished his career with 1484 points (2^nd all-time), 812 rebounds (3^rd all-time), 208 assists (8^th all-time) and 179 blocks (2^nd all-time). Snyder has passed Avitabile in assists (216) and at his current pace he is projected to pass him in rebounds with 751.
 
Up Next:
Vassar will be back in action next week on Tuesday, January 27 to play Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at 8:00 pm in Troy, NY.