Box Score
NEWBURGH, NY (November 18, 2011) -- The Vassar College men's basketball team led by as many as eight points in the game's early stages but Mount St. Mary College outscored the Brewers 45-29 in the second half en route to a 78-56 win on Friday night at the Kaplan Center.
The lead changed six times in the first half and the Knights entered the locker room with a 33-27 halftime lead, which they held for the remainder of the game. The Mount used size to its advantage with a 47-34 edge on the glass and 44 points combined from its three post players- senior Carlos Valdez, senior Kevin Milella, and sophomore Joe Henain.
The Brewers (1-1) host the Culinary Institute of America on Sunday, November 20, at 6:00 p.m. at the Athletics and Fitness Center. The Knights continue their four-game home stand on Tuesday, November 22 as they play host to New Paltz. The tip is set for 7:00 p.m. in the Kaplan Center.
The Brewers took their largest lead of the game at 16-8 with 12:41 remaining in the first half after a 9-0 run. Down 8-7 with 15:15 remaining, sophomore Lucas Wager put Vassar ahead with a layup inside. Senior Nick Justiz hit a 3-pointer, freshman Alex Snyder finished down low and classmate Johnny Mrlik hit a jumper to cap the 9-0 run.
A jumper at the 6:45 mark from sophomore Evan Carberry sent the Brewers to a 27-23 advantage but it was the last bucket of the half for the Brewers. The Mount closed the half on a 10-0 run and an emphatic dunk from Henain with six seconds to play sent the Mount to the locker room with a 33-27 lead.
The Brewers pulled to within four at the 17:30 mark when a jumper from freshman Luka Ladan found the mark to make the score 37-33. Kevin Milella had the answer this time, knocking down back-to-back jumpers to spark an 8-0 run for the Knights that made it 45-33.
With the game still in reach as the clock ticked under 12 minutes, the Knights put together another 8-0 run and led 55-38 with 8:57 to play. Junior Lenny Ragaglia put the game away for good at the 5:18 mark, draining a three-pointer from the top of the key to make it an 18-point advantage.
The Knights shot 44.8-percent from the field, while the Brewers clocked in at 36.2-percent.
Ladan led the Brewers with 12 points and pulled down five rebounds. Justiz went 3-for-3 from beyond the arc and finished with 11 points. Snyder led Vassar with six rebounds.
Henain led the Knights for the second straight contest, hitting on 7-of-10 from the field for 16 points. Valdez racked up 14 points to go along with a game-high 16 rebounds. Milella knocked down 6-of-12 from the floor and finished with 14 points.