POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (January 12, 2016) - Guard Jesse Browne enjoyed a career night, helping the Vassar College men's basketball team top the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 70-62.

"I thought we played with pretty good pace offensively, and we got into positions where I could be successful a little bit more," Browne said. "We just capitalized when they switched slower defenders on me."

Browne (Barrington, RI/Deerfield Academy) scored a career-best 28 points to give the Brewers (5-7, 1-2 Liberty) their first conference victory Tuesday night at the Athletics and Fitness Center. The sophomore scored his previous high (24 points) coming off the bench against the Rochester Institute of Technology in just his third game of his first year.

"Jesse Browne was really aggressive, and we need him to continue to he do that," coach B.J. Dunne said. "He's an All-League player when he plays like he did tonight."

Browne capped his career night with a deep three, his fourth of the game, to push the Brewers ahead 66-54 with just over a minute to play.

Two other Brewers scored in double figures. Guard Erikson Wasyl (Durham, CT/Coginchaug) totaled 19 points with five triples, and junior forward Mickey Adams (Boston, MA/St. Sebastian's School) added 10.

Wasyl highlighted a 15-4 run that helped the Brewers take its largest lead of the first half after being down five to start the game. The senior scored 11 straight points for the Brewers, including three consecutive triples to put them ahead six, 19-13.

"Whenever (Wasyl) gets going, the whole bench and everyone that's playing just gets so energized," Browne said. "I think it just helps put the team on a whole new level."

While the upperclassmen led the offensive effort, the freshman showed promise on the defensive end. Guard Alex Seff (Arlington, VA/Washington & Lee) grabbed eight boards and forward Steve Palecki (Southborough, MA/St. John's) pulled in seven in his first collegiate game, as VC out-rebounded RPI, 47-27.

"I think (the key to the game was) guys that haven't really played that many minutes for us throughout the season coming in and playing big and stepping up and guarding some seniors on the other team," Browne said. "Really just cleaning up the glass and playing great defense, just really having confidence right off the bat."

The Brewers (5-7, 1-2 Liberty) held the Engineers (7-7, 1-4 Liberty) to 28 percent shooting in the second half, while shooting 52 percent themselves.

VC continues it homestretch Friday when Skidmore (7-5, 2-2 Liberty) comes to town for an 8 p.m. game.