ANNADALE-ON-HUDSON, NY (February 18, 2015) – Bard College opened the second half on an 18-2 run spanning over six minutes, as the Raptors clinched a 88-60 victory over Vassar Wednesday evening. After leading 42-41 at the half, the Brewers were outscored 47-18 in the second, while the Raptors finished 64.7% from the field and 12-19 from beyond the arc in the game. Senior Siondueh Burnette led Bard with 19 points on 9-13 shooting from the floor, while sophomore Harry Johnson added 17 to help the Raptors move to 11-13 and 6-9 in the Liberty League. VC drops to 7-17 (3-12 LL) with the loss.  

After senior Curtis Smith (Mastic, NY/Eastport South Manor) put Vassar ahead 44-41 with a jumper to start off the second half, Bard took over with 18 unanswered points on a nearly seven minute stretch. Five different Raptors scored over the run, led by six on three layups from Burnette, and before the Brewers could blink Bard had a 59-44 lead.

Senior Alex Snyder (Rutland, VT/Rutland) finally halted the skid with a layup at the 12:56 mark, but the damage was already done as VC was unable to dig itself out of the hole. Bard never trailed by single digits for the remainder of the game, fending off any comeback bids from Vassar to earn the win.

Both sides traded baskets early in the game at the Stevenson Athletic Center, before Bard was able to pull ahead 20-14 on a seven point run with 11:59 to play. VC got two back on a pair of free throws from junior Erikson Wasyl (Durham, CT/Coginchaug), before the Raptors opened up the lead to 10 on a triple from Johnson.

VC battled back on a 10 point run of its own, fueled by two three pointers and a jumper from Smith. Another successful jumper from freshman Spencer Einhorn (Birmingham, AL/Mountain Brook), who scored 15 of his career-high 17 points in the first half, tied the game at 28 with 6:55 remaining.

The Brewers saw its largest lead of the half get to five after a three ball from Einhorn made it 38-33. Bard closed the gap in the final minutes, but a free throw from senior Jonathan Safir (Buffalo, NY/Williamsville North) gave VC a 42-41 edge heading into the locker room. Both squads were highly efficient from the floor in the opening half,  with VC shooting 64.0% and 75.0% (6-8) from beyond the arc while the Raptors were 60.0% from the field and 55.6% (5-9) from deep.

Vassar will close out the 2014-15 campaign at home on Friday, February 20 when the Brewers welcome RPI to the Athletics and Fitness Center for an 8 pm slate.

--VASSAR--