POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (December 9, 2015) – Visiting Southern Vermont College outscored Vassar 13-3 over the final 5:49 of the first half, using the run to push past the Vassar College men's basketball team 76-64 Wednesday evening in non-conference play from the Athletics and Fitness Center.

The Mountaineers (5-2), currently receiving votes in the latest D3hoops.com Top 25 poll, were aggressive on both the offensive and defensive end from start to finish. Vassar was able to withstand the pressure though, leading through most of the middle part of the first stanza.

VC (3-4) pushed its lead up to as much as four with 10:48 to go in the opening period, as sophomore guard Jesse Browne (Barrington, RI/Barrington) connected on a triple to make the score 21-17. Vassar led until the 6:39 point of the opening period, when Nate Goldsmith hit a jumper followed by two free throws to put SVC up 28-25.

After the Brewers pulled to within one at 30-29 on a pair of foul shots from Chris Gallivan (East Walpole, MA/Walpole), Southern Vermont scored 13 of the game's next 15 points to lead by 12, taking a 43-32 lead into the break.

Following halftime the Brewers played stride-for-stride with the Mountaineers, pulling to within six twice including with 14:40 to play in regulation on a layup by Paul Grinde (Virginia Beach, VA/Cape Henry Collegiate). SVC would respond by growing its advantage back up to 15 with 5:26 to go on a three-pointer by Goldsmith.

Vassar didn't go away, trying late to mount a furious comeback, pulling to within seven on a pair of free throws by Erikson Wasyl (Durham, CT/Coginchaug) following a flagrant foul. On the ensuing possession though, DeShawn Hamlet of the Mountaineers got a steal and bucket to put the visitors back up by nine.

After a Grinde layup made the score 71-64 with 1:41 to go, Vassar got a stop but couldn't get any closer as the Mountaineers iced the game from the line. Grinde nearly matched his career-high Wednesday, posting a game-high 21 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the floor. The big fella also chalked up eight rebounds and three blocks on the night.

Vassar got 15 points and a season-high nine rebounds from Wasyl, while Browne added 11 points and five caroms. VC shot 40.4 percent (23-57) from the floor on the night, but managed to connect on just five of the 20 shots from three-point land. The Brewers were 13-of-21 (61.9 percent) from the line, narrowly winning the battle on the glass 41-40.

The Mountaineers got a team-best 16 points of the bench from Goldsmith, while William Bromiski added 13 points and eight rebounds in the winning cause. SVC shot 40.3 percent (25-62) on field goals, but were helped by knocking down 20 of its 28 free throws. Southern Vermont also forced the Brewers into 16 turnovers, while committing just seven on the night.

VC will have some days off for the Holiday break before reconvening in San Juan, Puerto Rico for the Puerto Rico Classic. Vassar will take on Gustavus Adolphus College (MN) Monday, December 28 at 5 p.m., followed the next day by taking on Central College (IA).