Poughkeepsie, NY - Four players finished with double-digit points, led by senior Nathan Denham's career-high 24 points, to carry the Vassar College Men's Basketball team to a season-opening 83-68 victory over SUNY Geneseo at the Hochberg Family Tip-Off Tournament on Friday evening. Vassar begins the season 1-0 overall while the Knights drop to 0-2 on the season.

First Half

• Vassar opened the game with a 12-4 lead following five points from Denham, four from sophomore Parker Neuenhaus and a three-pointer from junior Sebastian Medina.
• The lead ballooned to 19-6 after a triple from junior Shea Fitzgerald and a bucket from Neuenhaus with 13:36 left in the first half.
• Geneseo went on a 20-3 run over the next five and a half minutes to take a 26-22 lead, led by eight points from Josh Garelle.
• VC regained the lead at 30-28 following a six-point from Denham and a lay-in from sophomore Will Gregory.
• The Knights pulled back in front at 34-30 on a Landon Brunken bucket with two and a half minutes left in the opening half.
• Vassar got back within two heading into the halftime break following a jumper from junior Avery Lee to make it 38-36.
• Geneseo finished the opening 20 minutes shooting 52.8-percent from the field but were limited to 0-for-7 from three-point range.
• Vassar shot 33.3-percent overall in the first half and connected on just 4-for-23 from three-point territory.

Second Half

• The two teams traded buckets over the first four minutes as Robert Pericolosi's free throw evened the game at 45 with 15:29 left.
• Three three-pointers from Fitzgerald and Lee over the next two minutes put the Brewers ahead 54-47 at the 13:23 mark.
• Brunken's layup put the Knights within 58-53 with 9:33 remaining before VC went on an 8-0 run on four points apiece from Lee and Denham to take a double-digit lead at 64-53.
• Vassar's lead grew to 15 points on a three-point play from Fitzgerald and a dunk from Neuenhaus with 4:43 left in regulation.
• The Brewers expanded the lead to a game-high 18 points on a three-pointer from Fitzgerald with 3:10 remaining in the contest.
• Vassar improved its shooting to 47.1-percent from the field and knocked down 6-of-13 from behind the three-point line.
• Geneseo cooled to 31.4-percent overall and went 0-for-7 from three-point range.

For The Brewers

• Denham finished with a career-high 24 points on 8-for-14 shooting and a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line along with 14 rebounds and two blocks.
• Lee garnered 18 points (6-for-12), eight assists and five rebounds while Fitzgerald added 17 points, 14 of which came in the second half.
• Neuenhaus recorded 10 points, eight boards and three assists along with Medina chipping in eight points, eight assists, four rebounds and two blocks.

For The Knights

• Garelle led Geneseo with 21 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block along with Pericolosi recording 17 points, 15 boards and five assists.
• Colin Gentile registered 10 points and boards while Brunkin added 10 points, three boards and two assists off the bench.
• Justin Yearwood and Jaiyden Jones each added four points off the bench.

Game Statistics

• Vassar finished the evening shooting 39.7-percent from the field, including 10-for-36 from three, and 15-for-16 from the free throw line.
• Geneseo closed the contest shooting 42.3-percent overall but were held to 0-for-14 from three-point range, and 8-for-11 from the free throw stripe.
• The Brewers held a 14-8 edge in points off turnovers and 16-7 in second chance points.
• The Knights outscored Vassar 50-34 in points in the paint and 16-8 in fast break points.

Up Next

• Both teams will return for the second day of the Hochberg Family Tip-Off Tournament with SUNY Geneseo facing off with Colby-Sawyer at 2:00 p.m. followed by the championship game between Hartford and Vassar at 4:00 p.m.