POTSDAM, N.Y. – After winning the Utica Basketball Classic to conclude non-conference play, the Vassar College men's basketball team resumed its Liberty League schedule at Clarkson on Friday night.  The Brewers (5-6, 1-3 Liberty) cut a 15-point deficit to one midway through the second half, but the Golden Knights (2-9, 1-3 Liberty) ultimately held on for an 82-74 victory at Alumni Gymnasium.
 
Clarkson built a 17-9 lead at the 13:32 mark of the first half before Vassar responded with a 12-7 run to pull within three, 24-21, with 8:32 left until halftime.  However, the Golden Knights ended the half on a 24-12 spurt to open up a 15-point advantage, 48-33, at the break.
 
It was still a 15-point game early in the second half when Paul Grinde (Virginia Beach, VA) sank a trey to begin the Vassar comeback.  Chris Gallivan (East Walpole, MA) capped the 16-2 run with a three-pointer that cut the Brewers' deficit to one, 53-52, with 12:06 remaining.  Clarkson answered with 13 straight points, though, to extend its cushion to 66-52 with 6:46 to go.  Vassar rallied back within five at 71-66, but would get no closer, as the Golden Knights made 7-of-8 free throws down the stretch to close out the 82-74 win.
 
Alex Seff (Arlington, VA) paced the Brewers with 17 points to go along with five rebounds and three assists.  Grinde finished with 15 points and seven boards, while Zach Bromfeld (Woodmere, NY) tallied 10 points on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting.  He also grabbed five rebounds.  Mason Dyslin (Yorktown Heights, NY) added five boards, as Vassar held a 38-22 edge on the glass.  As a team, the Brewers shot 51.9 percent (27-of-52) from the floor, 33.3 percent (9-of-27) from long range, and 78.6 percent (11-of-14) at the charity stripe.
 
Matt Higgins notched a game-high 22 points for Clarkson.  Chris Hulbert added 18 points, while Jason Phelps contributed 10 points, three assists and three steals.  Liam Ellis distributed eight assists for the Golden Knights, who went 25-for-57 (43.9 percent) from the field.  Clarkson shot 41.2 percent (14-of-34) from three-point land, and 75 percent (18-of-24) at the free throw line.
 
The Brewers return to action on Saturday, when they visit St. Lawrence (6-5, 3-1 Liberty) at 4 p.m.  It will be the final game in a string where Vassar plays nine straight away from the Athletic & Fitness Center.