POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (February 19, 2016)— The Vassar College men's basketball team (12-12, 8-7 Liberty League) heads to Troy, NY to take on Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in its final game of the regular season Monday.

Game Details
Opponent: at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (10-13, 4-10 Liberty League)
Links:
(Vassar Men's Basketball Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
(RPI Men's Basketball Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
Site: Troy, NY
Facility: ECAV Arena
Date: February 21, 2016
Time: 4 p.m. Sunday
Game Coverage: (Live Stats) (Live Video)
 
What To Look For
Vassar most recently beat Bard College, 72-69, on Wednesday and hopes the momentum carries into Sunday's game against RPI. A win over the Engineers would put the Brewers in a better position to qualify for the Liberty League Championships. Currently, Skidmore College (6-7) and Union College (6-7) are tied for first in the conference, St. Lawrence University (9-6) is third, while Vassar (8-7) and Rochester Institute of Technology (8-7) are fighting for the fourth and final spot. While the Brewers are in Troy, the Tigers will be in Schenectady, where they will face the Dutchmen at 5 p.m.
 
Vassar's victory over Bard was truly a collaborative effort, as four Brewers scored in double digits. Junior Mickey Adams (Boston, MA/St. Sebastian's School) paced the Brewers with 18 points and six rebounds. Sophomore Jesse Browne (Barrington, RI/Deerfield Academy) and senior Erikson Wasyl (Durham, CT/Coginchaug) scored 13 points apiece, while freshman Paul Grinde (Virginia Beach, VA/Cape Henry Collegiate School) added 10. Freshman Alex Seff (Arlington, VA/Washington-Lee) and junior Ryan Huegel (Briarcliff Manor, NY/Briarcliff) came through in clutch situations, totaling eight points apiece as well. The Raptors got within two points five times in the final four minutes, but the Brewers held on for the win. Meanwhile, the Engineers have been struggling of late.
 
A Look At The RPI Engineers (10-13, 4-10 Liberty League)
Struggling to gain much momentum this season, RPI is currently stuck on a four-game losing streak, most recently falling to Union this past Saturday. RPI kept it close with Union, losing 78-73. Senior Tyler Gendron led RPI in scoring with 22 points to go with five rebounds, freshman Tom Horvat totaled 13 points, six rebounds and three steals and senior Chase Almond finished with 11 points. The Engineers cut the deficit to six points, 73-67, on a three-pointer by Horvat with 59 seconds left, but the Dutchmen answered with back-to-back baskets for a 10-point, 77-67, lead with 21 seconds remaining. The Engineers' latest win came Feb. 5 when they beat the Clarkson Golden Knights, 61-55. Before RPI goes head-to-head with Vassar on Sunday, it will host Bard on Friday.
 
RPI holds its opponents to 65.1 points per game, the lowest in the Liberty League. The Engineers grab a conference-low 33.5 rebounds per game to have the eighth worst rebounding margin at -2.1. RPI has taken care of the ball for a 1.25 assist-to-turnover ratio, the best in the League. The Engineers also swipe the most steals in the conference with 7.87 per game. Horvat is seventh in the League in scoring (15.5 points per game) and three-point field-goal efficiency (35.8 percent). On the defensive end, Almond ranks third with 7.8 rebounds per game and seventh with .8 blocks per contest.
 
Against RPI All-Time
Since their first matchup in 1989, Vassar is 9-25 versus RPI all-time. The Engineers swept the Brewers in the 2014-15 season, but Vassar avenged those losses this year with a 70-62 win Jan. 12.
 
Career Mark
In Vassar's 72-69 victory over Bard on Wednesday, junior Ryan Huegel totaled a career-high eight points off the bench. The guard provided major sparks down the stretch to help the Brewers close out against the Raptors.
 
Adams' Addition
Since scoring in double figures for the first time against RPI on Jan. 12, Mickey Adams has scored at least 11 points in seven games, most recently putting up 18 in Wednesday's win over Bard. 
 
Less Threes, Yes Please!
The Brewers have been efficient from long and have been successful at defending the perimeter. Vassar drains 34.3 percent of its threes, while holding its opponents to 31 percent shooting from beyond the arc, which is good for second lowest in the conference.
 
From The Stripe
In eight of their past 10 games, the Brewers have scored more from the charity stripe than their opponents.

Line 'Em Up
Vassar holds its opponents to 67.1 percent shooting from the foul line, which is good for third lowest in the Liberty League.

Glass Cleaners
Vassar holds the third best rebounding margin in the conference at .9. Only Skidmore (1.9) and St. Lawrence (1.5) have higher marks.

Close Competition
The Brewers have kept the competition close in many games this season, losing five games by seven points or fewer.

On The Mark
In 11 of their past 14 games, the Brewers have shot more efficiently from deep compared to their opponents.

Wasyl Watch
Senior guard Erikson Wasyl finishes the regular season with 365 total points, averaging 15.3 points per game. Wasyl also leads the team in free-throw percentage with an impressive 82.1 clip.
 
Top 10
Two Brewers are within the Top 10 of the Liberty League's scoring list: Erikson Wasyl (eighth, 15.3 points per game) and Jesse Browne (ninth, 15.2) earned the honors as Vassar's top two scorers. Browne and Wasyl are also sixth and eighth in the conference with respective 44.4 and 43.4 field-goal percentages.

Sharpshooters
Jesse Browne and Erikson Wasyl shoot 41.4 and 40.5 percent from deep for third and fourth best in the conference, respectively.

Iron Men
Two Brewers have been earning valuable minutes to lead the Liberty League. Erikson Wasyl ranks first with 35.8 minutes per game, while Jesse Browne is right behind him with 35.3.

Durable Defense
Freshman Paul Grinde has been holding it down for the Brewers on the defensive end. The center's 7.3 rebounds and one block per game are good for fourth and fifth best in the conference, respectively.

Get it, Grinde
The Brewers have 52 blocks under their belt, and 44 percent of them are thanks to freshmen Paul Grinde.
 
History Made
Paul Grinde made history Jan. 16 when he pulled down the most rebounds in program history. The freshman grabbed 18 boards against Union College to surpass Alex Snyder, who collected 17 against RIT on Feb. 9, 2013.
 
Up Next
The Vassar men's basketball team hopes to play in the playoffs, which begin Wednesday, Feb. 24.