POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - Senior Avni Mustafaj set a new career-high with 29 points as he led the Vassar College Men's Basketball team to a thrilling double overtime 70-63 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at home on Friday evening. The Brewers move to 10-6 overall and 6-3 in Liberty League matchups while RPI falls to 12-4 overall and 6-3 in conference contests.

In the opening seven minutes, the two teams traded buckets with the contest being tied at 10 following a three-point play from senior Avni Mustafaj. RPI took a one-point lead at the 8:35 mark on a Brian Kelly layup before the Brewers scored the next four points from seniors Jack Rothenberg and Ethan Ellis to earn a three-point advantage heading into the final six minutes of regulation.

After a triple from RPI's Will Rubin that tied the contest at 17 apiece at the 5:24 mark, Vassar closed the half on a 7-1 run on a three-pointer from senior Ethan Ellis along with two lay-ins from senior Zach Johnson and junior Case Parsons. Vassar held a 24-18 lead heading into the halftime intermission as three Brewers tallied five points in the half and the Engineers were led by Avery Eugster who tallied six points in the first 20 minutes of action.

The Engineers opened the second half on a 9-2 run to take a 27-26 lead with 14:49 remaining in the contest as Dom Black tallied seven of the points and knocked down the three-pointer that pushed RPI ahead. The lead continued to be exchanged multiple times throughout the midway points as the second half with the Engineers gaining a two point advantage at the 10:02 mark on an old-fashioned three-point play from Eugster. 

Six straight points from Vassar including four from Mustafaj and a bucket from Johnson gave Vassar a four point lead with about seven and a half minutes left in regulation. Jonny Angbazo responded with a mid range jumper to trim the lead back down to two on the following possession and then Mustafaj converted two free throws at the 6:41 mark to regain the four point advantage.

The Engineers tallied four straight points on two free throws from Black and a jumper from Eugster to tie the contest up at 38 with 4:08 left in the contest. Senior Zev Katz's driving layup with 2:16 remaining put Vassar ahead 42-39 before two free throws from Angbazo cut the lead back to one with just under two minutes left. 

Angbazo drove to the rim and converted a layup with 23 seconds remaining and then the Engineers were forced to foul down by one. Mustafaj converted both free throws which was followed by a Black lay-in with seven seconds left. Mustafaj returned to the free throw line and made one of two and then Black sent the game in overtime on a driving bucket from coast to coast with the game tied at 47.

After both teams traded two points in the opening minute of overtime, Angbazo converted a three-point play on a strong drive to the rim to take a three point lead at 52-49. The Brewers had a made free throw on the next possession but the Engineers' Chuck Clemons hit a jumper to gain a four point advantage with two and a half minutes remaining. Johnson's lay-in on a feed from Mustafaj at the 2:18 mark followed by a three-pointer from Rothenberg put the Brewers up one with just under two minutes to play in the first overtime period. Black split a pair of free throws with 53 seconds left and the Engineers had a jumper spin in and out with 13 seconds left before the Brewers got off a shot before the horn but the game was sent to double overtime.

Vassar struck first in the second overtime period as two offensive rebounds led to a kick out for a three-pointer from Katz to take the first lead of the period. Mustafaj recorded four straight points for the Brewers to push the lead to seven points with 2:28 left in the contest. After two free throws from Black, Katz scored three straight points for Vassar, capped by a thunderous dunk with 54 seconds remaining. Katz's three-point play at the 19 seconds mark pushed Vassar's lead to a game-high nine points as the Brewers earned its sixth Liberty League victory of the season at 70-63.

Mustafaj poured in his career-high 29 points on 7-for-13 shooting and converted 15-for-17 at the free throw line while also adding five rebounds and four assists. He now holds the school record for most free throws made in a game and is second on the list in free throw attempts in a game. Katz added 12 points while senior Kevin McAuliffe chipped in seven points, four boards and two steals. Ellis finished with six points and eight rebounds with Johnson scoring six and grabbing a game-high 18 rebounds.

Black led the Engineers with 25 points along with seven rebounds and three steals while Angbazo completed a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Eugster was the third player in double figures with 11 points and added five boards.

The Brewers capped the evening shooting 34.9-percent from the floor and made five three-pointers while outscoring RPI by five at the free throw stripe. The Engineers finished the night shooting 35.5-percent from the field and knocked down three triples. Vassar held the edge in points off turnovers at 14-11 as well as second chance points.

Vassar will return to action against Bard tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 p.m. following the 1,000 point banner ceremony at 3:45 p.m. RPI heads north to take on Skidmore at 4:00 p.m. tomorrow afternoon.