POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Junior Zach Johnson (San Francisco, CA) recorded a double-double behind 21 points and rebounds to lead the Vassar men's basketball team to a 78-66 victory over Skidmore on Saturday afternoon. The Brewers continue to jostle for position at the top of the Liberty League, moving to 15-6 overall and 11-4 in the conference. Meanwhile, Skidmore falls to 12-9 and 8-7 in the league.

Neville Lee (Yonkers, NY) and Oliver Moody (Wayland, MA) started the game and got the Brewers on the board to celebrate senior day. Moody dished off to Lee for an inside layup, and then Moody scored to make it 4-2.

After Vassar took a 6-2 lead, Skidmore used a 10-0 run with two three-pointers to lead by six at 15:21. The Brewers chipped away until first-year Alan Cedeno (Cape Coral, FL) passed to junior Jack Rothenberg (Yardley, PA) for an open triple. Rothenberg scored the following four points to give the Brewers a 15-14 lead. Two ties followed until Rothenberg and Avni Mustafaj (Yonkers, NY) scored inside to give Vassar a five-point advantage.  

The score remained close, and with the game tied 31-31, Johnson fed the ball to Mustafaj beyond the arc. Mustafaj then greased the shot from long range to begin a 7-0 run. Skidmore's Mark Engel netted the final basket of the half, but the Brewers led 38-33.

Junior Ethan Ellis (Silver Spring, MD) drained a three to start the second half, pushing the Brewers to 41-33. Vassar continued to hold a slight lead and went to double-digits following a layup by Ellis and a trey from Mustafaj at 16:09. Ty Lamport converted a pair of free throws to make it a nine-point game, but three from Johnson and first-year Luke Adams (Leawood, KS) put Vassar ahead 54-39.

The Brewers continued to hold a comfortable lead, but a Thoroughbreds triple by Jake Walsh made it 58-49 at 11:02. Lee answered with a fastbreak layup, but Skidmore continued to chip away. At 5:20, Engel hit a three to cut the lead to five. A 6-0 Vassar run with two baskets from Rothenberg followed and made it a double-digit lead once again.

The final minutes were mainly foul shots, and the Brewers capitalized on making them hold on for the victory.

Johnson also recorded six assists and made one steal, while Rothenberg finished with 19 points and seven rebounds. Mustafaj tacked on 15 points and grabbed six rebounds. Ellis netted 11 points.

For Skidmore, Lamport led the team behind 17 points and five rebounds. Walsh added 16 points, while Eichelberge recorded 12.

Vassar wraps up the regular season next week when they first travel to face Hobart on Fr. Feb. 18 at 7:30 p.m.