POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (December 5, 2015) – Freshman center Paul Grinde (Virginia Beach, VA/Cape Henry Collegiate) scored a career-high 22 points and senior Erikson Wasyl (Durham, CT/Coginchaug) added 18 points, five rebounds and six assists to lead the Vassar College men's basketball team past Hamilton College 74-63 in non-conference play from the Athletics and Fitness Center Saturday.

Vassar (3-3) showed well in its opening home game of the season after being away for its first five contests, shooting 51.9 percent (28-54) from the floor, while nailing 9-of-19 from behind the arc (47.4 percent). The strong shooting was needed though, as Hamilton (4-3) corralled 17 offensive boards and took 12 more shot attempts on the game.

In the opening half, the two teams battled back and forth with the Continentals taking their last lead of the first period on a pair of free throws by Wes Wilber 7:01 into the game. VC scored the next five points to retake the lead, an advantage it would take into the halftime intermission with a score of 38-34. Wasyl posted a team-best 10 points in the first half, as the Brewers connected on seven of their 11 trifectas.

After the break, Vassar built its lead up to double figures for the first time at 15:13 on the clock thanks to a strip and breakaway layup from junior Mickey Adams (Boston, MA/St. Sebastian's School). The Continentals would pull to within four with 8:29 left in regulation, but six straight points by Vassar made it a 10-point lead once more.

The Brewers would continue to grow their lead, leading by as much as 16 with 2:01 left on the clock on a step-back three-pointer from sophomore Tony Caletti (Mill Valley, CA/Branson), as VC cruised to the win. The difference was the dominant play inside, as the Brewers posted a 28-12 edge in paint points, led by Grinde and his 8-for-10 shooting from the field.

Wasyl's efficiency was heightened by the fact that he played 34 minutes and turned the ball over just once. Adams finished with a strong outing of nine points and team-best seven rebounds, while freshman guard Alex Seff (Arlington, VA/Washington-Lee) posted nine points, six boards, two assists and two steals in 16 minutes.

The Brewers passed the ball well as well Saturday, chalking up 18 assists on 28 made field goals, led by the seven helpers from Caletti, who added six points to his ledger. VC won the rebounding battle 40-34, while knocking down nine of its 10 free throw attempts.

Hamilton was paced by the 13 points from Joe Pucci, while Peter Hoffmann added 10 points on 3-of-8 shooting from the floor. Wilber finished his game with eight points and a game-leading eight rebounds for the Continentals, who shot 21-for-66 (31.8 percent) from the field and 72 percent (18-25) from the line. HC did struggle from deep throughout, knocking down just three of its 21 three-point attempts.

The Brewers will host Southern Vermont College (3-2) Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in the AFC, while Hamilton will entertain Hobart College Thursday evening at 7 p.m. in a non-conference tussle in Clinton, NY.