ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, NY (February 14, 2012) -- Lightning struck twice this season for the Bard College men's basketball team as the perennial underdog shocked Vassar College with a come-from-behind 56-55 win in Liberty League play on Valentine's Day--Bard's fourth win over Vassar in 28 meetings dating back to 1988.

Vassar took the final shot with a chance to win, but senior Nick Justiz's driving shot in the lane was blocked by Yonah Greenstein as the buzzer sounded. Out to avenge its previous loss to Bard, the first since 1995, Vassar took a 31-23 lead at halftime. The lead slipped away as Vassar's shooting dipped to 25.81 percent in the half, and Bard took the lead for good in the final minute of a see-saw second half that featured six ties and seven lead changes.

The Brewers (8-15, 4-10 Liberty) host Rochester Institute of Technology on Friday, February 17, at 8:00 p.m. and celebrate Senior Day on Saturday against Hobart at 4:00 p.m. at the Athletics and Fitness Center. The Raptors (5-18, 2-12 Liberty) host Hobart on Friday at 8:00 p.m.

With a one-point lead and 8 seconds to play, Bard missed a one-and-one opportunity; and after a rebound and a timeout, Vassar had 7.6 seconds left to win the game.

Justiz brought the ball up court, drove the lane to his left, but Greenstein got a hand on the ball as Justiz was bringing it up for a shot. The ball then deflected off Justiz's hands and was headed out of bounds when the game ended.

In a thrilling game played with playoff-like intensity, Vassar built a 31-23 first-half lead behind a 19-12 rebounding advantage, a 9-0 edge in second-chance points, and a 10-0 edge in points off turnovers.

Bard brought stifling defense and a 52.8 shooting percentage in the second half, outscoring Vassar 12-5 in the first nine minutes to cut the lead to one at 36-35. The game was tied four times in the last nine minutes of the game, and Matt Shubert hit a baseline jumper with 38 seconds left to give Bard the final lead, 56-55.

Shubert was in familiar territory, hitting two free throws with three seconds left on January 10 to lead Bard to a 59-57 win over Vassar in its Liberty League debut. He led Bard with 13 points on Tuesday night. Jose Canario added eight points, and Siondueh Burnette added six points and six rebounds.

Freshman Johnny Mrlik  led Vassar with 17 points and eight rebounds. Classmate Luka Ladan added a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double. Senior Ethan Shanley finished with 11 points.