POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (February 7, 2012) – The Vassar College men's basketball team kept pace with the high-volume shooting and full-court press of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; but the Engineers shot a scorching 71.4 percent from 3-point range in the second half en route to a 100-89 win in Liberty League play on Tuesday night at the Athletics and Fitness Center.

RPI led for the entirety of the second half thanks to timely shooting whenever Vassar came within striking range of the lead. Vassar Freshman Johnny Mrlik kept the game close with a game-high 32 points on 11-for-15 from the field and 6-for-9 from beyond the arc, notching 22 points in the second half.

The Brewers (6-14, 2-9 Liberty) face Clarkson on the road on Friday, February 7, at 8:00 p.m. The Engineers (10-10, 7-5 Liberty), tied for fifth-place in the Liberty League, play Rochester Institute of Technology on the road on Friday at 8:00 p.m.

Early in the second half, RPI pushed its lead to 51-42 with an 8-3 run capped with a 3-pointer by senior guard Matthew Pooley. The Brewers scored the next eight points on a jumper and triple by sophomore guard Sam Rappaport and a 3-pointer by Mrlik to pull within one point at 51-50 with 14:30 left to play.

It was the closest Vassar would come to tasting the lead as RPI regained its handle with an 8-2 run for a 59-52 lead after a deep three by junior Brendan Farley. Vassar knocked once more as Mrlik drained a three to pull within four at 59-55. The Engineers responded with a jumper inside by junior Daniel Martin and a fast-break three by Jamie Zajac following a steal for a 64-55 lead with 11:36 to play.

Freshman Luka Ladan brought Vassar within five points at 64-59 with a pair of nifty finishes inside but RPI began to pull away, raining four 3-pointers over the next two minutes for a 79-66 lead with 8:01 to play. The Engineers rode hot shooting to the 100-89 victory, finishing the half 66.7 percent from the field and 71.4 percent from 3-point range.

Vassar reversed its first half turnover woes in the second half with a 12-7 advantage in turnovers and a 19-14 edge in points off turnovers.

The Engineers led for the much of the first half with the largest lead at 37-20 and an early tie at 8-8. Although the Brewers shot 50 percent from the field, the Engineers created an 18-12 advantage in turnovers and 16-12 edge in points off turnovers. Vassar entered halftime down single-digits at 43-35 thanks to a 6-2 run to end the half.

For Vassar, Mrlik added seven rebounds and two steals to 32 points. Junior Jon Herzog tallied 18 points, four assists, and three steals. Freshman center Alex Snyder had 14 hard-earned points down low and five boards. Sophomore swingman Evan Carberry picked up 11 rebounds, three assists, four steals, and two blocks.

For RPI, Pooley posted 27 points, five assists, and four steals, shooting 9-for-13 from the floor and 4-for-6 from downtown. Four other Engineers followed with double-digit points- Farley (15 points), Zajac (12 points), Redon Qello (11 points), and Matt Dixon (10 points).