POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – In a thrilling first-round game, the Vassar men's basketball team came out with the 71-69 victory against Hobart in the Liberty League championship opener. Junior Jack Rothenberg scored the game-winner on a last-second triple to give the Brewers their first playoff wins since the 2013-14 season.
Vassar kept the game close in the first half until a jumper from Patrick Walker gave Hobart a 7-4 lead. Junior Zach Johnson then netted an inside layup before Avni Mustafaj (Yonkers, NY) scored the following four Brewer points to give them a 10-7 lead. Vassar held a slight advantage, and Logan Scott pushed the Brewers ahead 14-11 following a layup at 12:35. The Statesmen's Aidan Rodgers spurred a 9-0 run until 9:02 to go up 20-14.
After that, the Brewers had to rebuild some momentum, and Jack Rothenberg converted a pair of free throws to cut into the Hobart lead. Johnson scored off a Rothenberg assist at 7:23. Rothenberg then netted a layup to make it 20-22. Mustafaj found Rothenberg for an open triple at 6:31, 24-23. Hobart's Carter Meshanic netted an and-one to respond, but Mustafaj drained a basket to tie 25-25. Johnson made a layup at 3:39, and then neither side scored again until 40 seconds left in the half. First-year Luke Adams found Zev Katz to push Vassar up 31-25, but a triple from Hobart's Pat Healey made it a three-point game heading into halftime.
Johnson got the second half rolling, scoring four-straight points before Mustafaj netted a jumper at 18:18. The Statesmen fought their way back, tying 39-39 following a Jackson Meshanic jumper at 14:19. Mustafaj netted the next two baskets, and Katz put the Brewers up by 11 after converting the and-one opportunity.
Vassar kept a slight lead before four points from Meshanic, and Walker made it a four-point contest at 4:32. Hobart's Aidan Rodgers cut the lead to two points, but Adams drained a trey at 3:36 to put the game at 59-55. After some baskets were traded, Johnson hit a running jumper at 1:09, but the Statesmen answered with a Meshanic triple, making it 66-65. Hobart would take the lead with 33 seconds left, and Johnson responded with a basket. It went down to the wire as Meshanic hit a jumper with two seconds remaining.
The Brewers took a time-out, and Ben Freed was subbed into inbound the ball. He heaved the ball down the court to Rothenberg, who jumped over two Hobart players. Rothenberg turned and faded away and drained the falling three-pointer as the buzzer went off to advance Vassar to the semifinals.
Johnson led the Brewers with 20 points, nine rebounds, two blocks, and one steal. Mustafaj recorded the double-double behind 19 points and ten rebounds with four assists. Rothenberg tallied 18 points and six boards.
Meshanic had a game-high 21 points for Hobart, while Jackson Meshanic had 14 points and nine rebounds.
Vassar now plays Ithaca in the semifinals on Saturday at RPI. Game time is set for 4:30 p.m.
