BRISTOL, RI (November 15, 2013) – The Vassar College men's basketball team dropped a 65-62 nail-biter to Clark University on Friday evening in the opening round of the Roger Williams Tip-Off Tournament.

    Vassar will face host Roger Williams tomorrow afternoon in the consolation game. Roger Williams lost to Mount Ida in overtime tonight, 88-87.

    Clark turned the ball over with 15 seconds and a 64-62 lead. After the Brewers turned the ball over on an offensive foul just five seconds later, Vassar was forced to intentionally foul, sending Nicholas DaPrato to the free throw line with nine seconds remaining in play. DaPrato made his first shot but missed the second that was rebounded by senior Evan Carberry (Metuchen, NJ/Metuchen).

    He then gave the ball to sophomore Erikson Wasyl (Durham, CT/Coginchaug) who tossed up a 3-pointer with two seconds remaining from five feet beyond the arc. His shot hit the back iron, giving Clark its first win of the season and advancing them to the championship game against Mount Ida.

    Sophomore Johnny Mrlik (San Francisco, CA/St. Ignatius College Prep) had the Brewers' game high in scoring with 13 points, going 4-for-4 from the line, 1-for-5 and 4-for-9 in field goals. Wasyl and juniors Luka Ladan (Belmont, MA/Belmont) and Alex Snyder (Rutland, VT/Rutland) each had 12 points. Snyder also earned his first double-double of the year with 10 boards.

    The Brewers outscored the Cougars going into halftime, 30-28 and also shot .500 from the floor going 12-for-24. Ladan was a perfect 3-3 in the first half and 2-2 from the line. Senior John Donnelly (Williston, VT/Champlain Valley Union) scored six points in the first half, going 3-for-5.

    34 of Vassar's points came in the paint while its defense held the Cougars to only 18 points inside.