POTSDAM, N.Y. – Behind a career-high 24 points, including the game-winning shot with three seconds left in overtime, from senior guard Jack Rothenberg, Vassar College defeated Clarkson University, 92-90 in Liberty League men's basketball action on Friday evening. The Brewers move to 7-4 overall and 3-1 in league play, while the Golden Knights are now 5-6 and 2-2 in the Liberty League.

The Brewers, who held a 41-40 lead at halftime, continued to impress, building up a 53-44 lead behind a layup and three-pointer from Rothenberg at the 16:58 mark. The margin continued to hold for Vassar until the 12:50 mark as Garret Delaney nailed a three to cut the gap to four (57-53), but a huge three-pointer from senior captain Zach Johnson at the 9:49 mark made it a 62-55 score for the Brewers.

The outstanding defense continued for Vassar as they held Clarkson scoreless for nearly four minutes before a downtown shot from Matteo Sinon, coupled with an ensuing layup seconds later, made it a two-point game (62-60) with 8:02 remaining.

Following a pair of free throw makes by the Golden Knights, the Brewers continued their sharp three-point shooting as a kick-out from senior captain Avni Mustafaj to classmate Zev Katz at the near side went in for the 68-62 advantage with 5:51 left in the contest.

Clarkson continued to battle late, capitalizing on a Delaney jumper, which coupled with a Ryan Miles-Ferguson deep three to tie things at 76-all with just over a minute remaining. Taking advantage once again at the charity stripe, Rothenberg drained both of his attempts, grabbing the two-point lead (78-76). The Knights nearly tied it with 32 seconds remaining, but a heads-up play from Rothenberg saved a shot on the other end.

Holding the possession, Clarkson tried for the equalizer bucket, but a driving play inside resulted in an offensive foul against the Knights – giving possession back to the Brewers with 17 seconds remaining. Off a free throw miss from senior guard Kevin McAuliffe, the ball went back to Clarkson as the home team took a strategizing timeout.

With six seconds on the clock, Clarkson saw Blake Gearhart nail the inside layup, tying the contest at 78-all and sending it into overtime.

In the extra session, the two teams battled back-and-forth, matching bucket for bucket as neither team could pull away until the 2:27 mark as a three from Ellis pushed the Brewers ahead by an 87-82 margin. After a pair of free throws from both teams, a Finn Cork jumper, along with a Sinon shot, made it a 90-88 contest with under a minute to play.

With 20 seconds to play in the extra session, Clarkson had a chance to tie, but a Miles-Ferguson miss gave the ball back to the Brewers. The Knights played tight defense, causing a VC turnover in their own end as Cork dropped in low for the tying bucket. Vassar responded on the other end as Rothenberg split the defense in the paint with three seconds left for the 92-90 lead that proved to be the final.

Rothenberg paced the way for Vassar – which shot 50.7% (35-of-69) for the game – shooting a blistering 66.7% (10-of-15) from the floor. He added nine rebounds with two assists and a steal in addition to his 24 points. Johnson posted a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds, nearly netting a triple-double after handing out nine assists with a block and two steals as well. Senior guard Ethan Ellis dropped in 11 points with four boards, while McAuliffe rounded out the double-figure effort with 10 points and four caroms.

Clarkson was paced by a game-high 26 points from Miles-Ferguson, who also added two assists and two steals. Delaney chipped in with 20 points and eight boards, while Sinon posted 13 points. Cork finished with a double-double for the Golden Knights, adding 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Teddy Fravel had a game-best three blocks on the night.

Both teams return to the court on Saturday as Vassar heads to St. Lawrence for a 4pm tilt against the Saints. Clarkson hosts Bard at 2pm.