POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (December 20, 2016) — The Vassar College men's basketball team (4-4) will kick off conference play to conclude the 2016 portion of its schedule, playing at Skidmore College (5-3) on Dec. 30 at 4 p.m. and Union College (4-4) the next day at 2 p.m.

Game Details
Opponent: Skidmore Thoroughbreds (5-3, 0-0 Liberty League)
Links: (Skidmore Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
Site: Saratoga Springs, NY
Facility: Williamson Sports Center
Date: December 30, 2016
Time: 4 p.m.
Game Coverage: (Live Stats)(Video)

Game Details
Opponent: Union Dutchmen (4-4, 0-0 Liberty League)
Links: (Union Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
Site: Schenectady, NY
Facility: Viniar Athletic Center
Date: December 31, 2016
Time: 2 p.m.
Game Coverage: (Live Stats)(Video)

Last Time Out: Vassar fell 77-53 to undefeated Wesleyan University on the road Dec. 7. Alex Seff notched his second double-double of the season with 18 points and 11 boards to lead the Brewers. Jesse Browne added nine points, five rebounds and three steals, while Mason Dyslin finished with six points and three boards. 

A Look At The Brewers (4-4):

• The Brewers started 2016-17 with a 3-0 record for the first time since 2008-09.
• Vassar will be looking to snap a two-game skid after falling to then-undefeated NESCAC opponents Williams College and most recently Wesleyan.
• Seff landed a spot on the most recent Liberty League release (Dec. 12), earning an Honor Roll nod after his performance against Wesleyan. The full release can be read here. 
• The Brewers have faired better on their home court, compiling a 3-1 record.
• Through eight games, the Brewers are shooting 43 percent from the floor and 36 percent from deep, while opponents are shooting 45 and 39 percent, respectively.
• The Brewers have been generous with the ball, dishing out 0.8 more assists than opponents, 15.1 to 14.3.
• Vassar is averaging 8.5 steals per contest, which is 2.4 more swipes than opponents. 
• Three Brewers are averaging double-digit scoring in Seff (16.3ppg), Browne (15.8ppg) and Dyslin (11.6ppg).
• Freshman Owen Murray been an excellent facilitator, dishing out a team-leading 2.9 assists per contest, tied with Browne. Murray has also grabbed a team-best 4.9 boards per game and swiped a team-high 17 total steals.
• The Brewers look to improve upon last season's campaign, in which they finished 12-14 overall, including a trip to the Liberty League Tournament. 

A Look At The Thoroughbreds (5-3): 

• Like the Brewers, the Thoroughbreds started the season 3-0, but look to snap a two-game skid. 
• Since winning five of its first six, Skidmore has dropped games at Plattsburgh State and most recently Middlebury College.
• Against Middlebury, Skidmore erased a 17-point first-half deficit, but couldn't hold onto the win, as Jake Brown scored the game-winning layup with 1:16 remaining.
• Skidmore has fared batter at home with a 3-0 record, compared to the 2-3 mark on the road or at neutral sites. 
• Through eight games, the Thoroughbreds are outscoring opponents by an 8.2 margin, 83.0 to 74.8. 
• Skidmore is shooting a whopping 52 percent from the floor and 42 percent from downtown, while holding opponents to 46 and 34 percent, respectively.
• The Thoroughbreds have also been efficient from the foul line, knocking down 81 percent of their free throws. 
• Skidmore has dished out 15.5 assists per game, compared to opponents' 12.6 average. 
• Three Thoroughbreds are averaging double-digit scoring in Edvinas Rupkus (20.6ppg), Aldin Medunjanin (16.0ppg) and Royce Paris (14.4ppg). 
• Rupkus leads the team in rebounds (5.6rpg), Medunjanin leads in assists (6.4apg) and Paris leads in steals (13). 
• The Thoroughbreds look to build upon their 2015-16 campaign, in which they finished 19-9 overall, including a Liberty League Tournament title and a trip to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. 

Against Skidmore All-Time: The Brewers are 19-27 against the Thoroughbreds all-time, dating back to their first meeting in 1989. The pair met three times last season, with Vassar winning their first meeting 69-64 on Jan. 16.

A Look At The Dutchmen (4-4):

• The Dutchmen dropped three of their first four games, but have since won three of their past four, most recently falling to No. 7 University of Rochester 77-58 on Dec. 12. 
• Rochester used a 21-0 run in the first half to take command and remain undefeated. For Union, Deshon Burgess posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Kevin Weckworth and Benjamin Lee added 10 points apiece. 
• Before the Dutchmen welcome the Brewers to Schenectady, they'll host the St. Lawrence Saints on Dec. 30. 
• Through eight games, the Dutchmen have shot 40 percent from the floor and 37 percent from deep, while opponents have shot 45 and 38 percent, respectively. 
• Union has been dominant on the glass, out-rebounding opponents by an average of 1.9 boards, 40.3 to 38.4. 
• The Dutchmen have also stolen 0.2 more steals per game, 6.6 to 6.4. 
• Three Dutchmen are averaging double figures in the scoring column: Burgess (18.4ppg), Wade McNamara (16.1ppg) and Kevin Weckworth (12.4ppg).
• Zachary Bouton leads the team in assists (2.9apg), while McNamara leads in rebounds (9.1rpg) and steals (10).
• The Dutchmen look to progress from last season, in which they finished 13-12, including a trip to the Liberty League semifinals.

Against Union All-Time: The Brewers are 9-34 against the Dutchmen all-time, dating back to their first meeting in 1988. Union has taken the past two meetings, beating Vassar twice in 2016. 

Next Up: Vassar will welcome Rochester Institute of Technology to the Athletics and Fitness Center on Jan. 6 to begin a five-game homestand.

—VASSAR—