GENEVA, N.Y. – On Friday evening, the Vassar men's basketball team began a three-game road trip with a 78-67 loss to Hobart. The Brewers (6-7, 2-4 Liberty) kept it a four-point game at halftime before the Statesmen (12-2, 6-1 Liberty) pulled away for the victory. With the win, Hobart snapped a three-game Brewers' winning streak. 

A Zach Bromfeld (Woodmere, NY) layup put the Brewers up 11-3 five minutes into the first, but Hobart responded with 6-0 run to cut the lead to 11-9. Avni Mustafaj (Yonkers, NY) connected for a jumper, and then Jack Rothenberg (Yardley, PA) sank a triple off a Joey Sacco (Ocean City, NJ) assist.

A Statesmen 7-0 span tied the game 16-16 at 9:23 before Bromfeld dropped in another layup. Some back-and-forth baskets followed, and Hobart took a 25-22 lead after a score from Daniel Cook. Josh Brownridge (New York, NY) drained a three-pointer to tie the game, but the Statesmen answered with a triple of their own. Vassar was able to keep the game within single digits behind baskets from Neville Lee (Yonkers, NY) and Bromfeld, being down 35-31 at the break.

Two made baskets to start the second half put Hobart up 39-34. Bromfeld picked up Mustafaj for a three-pointer to make it a five-point contest at 18:14, and then a pair of Kevin McAuliffe (Bethesda, MD) free throws cut the lead to 39-36. A 10-2 run gave Hobart its first double-digit lead of the night. Lee netted the next five points to keep the score close, but the Statesmen kept pulling away anytime Vassar attempted to begin a run.

With less than four minutes, McAuliffe drained a trey to make it 69-60. Hobart would take another double-digit lead after holding it for the remainder of the game.

Five Brewers scored in double figures, with Brownridge scoring a team and career-high 15 points behind 6-of-8 shooting. He also grabbed five boards and made one assist. McAuliffe netted 13 points, including three triples. Mustafaj and Bromfeld each had 11 points, while Bromfeld had a balanced night with five rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and two steals. Lee recorded a season-high ten points while grabbing four rebounds and a steal.

For the Statesmen, Dan Masino led all scorers with 18 points and four assists. Edens Fleurizard had 16 points with 14 rebounds, while Cook added 15 points.

Vassar plays Union tomorrow at 4 p.m. in Schenectady, NY.