Poughkeepsie, NY – With six 3-point field goals and 15 free throws in the second half, Vassar College rallied to defeat the Clarkson University Men's Basketball team 63-58 in Liberty League action on Saturday afternoon.

The Golden Knights fell to 6-12 overall and 3-8 in conference games, while Vassar moved forward to 12-7 and 8-4. Clarkson closes out its seven-game road trip on Tuesday when it takes on St. Lawrence University.

Vassar got off to a strong start with seven points in the first three minutes, but Clarkson clamped down defensively and held the Brewers to just 11 points over the final 17 minutes of the half. Meanwhile, the Knights made shots from the perimeter, with Ryan Miles-Ferguson, Matteo Sinon, and Blake Gearhart hitting 3-pointer to turn an early five-point deficit into a six-point lead, and continuing on in an 18-0 run over the course of nine minutes. Vassar got back within seven, but the Knights responded with another 11-0 run, and finished off the half with a 15-point advantage.

Clarkson's defense held Vassar to 5-for-28 shooting in the first half, though the Brewers did hit four 3-pointers.

The second half saw the game tighten a little in the opening minutes, but the Knights still held a double-digit advantage through the first five-plus minutes, including a 14-point advantage at the 14:43 mark when Finn Cork hit a short jumper to put the score at 44-30. However, Clarkson's offense was silenced for a seven-minute stretch, with a 3-pointer from Aydin Kocak being the lone make in that run. Vassar took advantage to rally, and tied the game at the 8:21 mark. Vassar took its first lead in 30 minutes when Nathan Denham hit a jumper at the 7:30 mark, but Clarkson didn't collapse, keeping the game close. A Luke Adams 3-pointer did give Vassar an eight-point advantage (60-52) at the 2:37 mark, but the Knights got back within two when Matteo Sinon hit a free throw with 50 seconds to go. The Brewers led by three with 40 seconds to go, but in Clarkson's final two possessions there was a miss and a turnover on and offensive foul, allowing the Brewers to clinch the game with two more free throws in the waning moments.  

Blake Gearhart produced 21 points on 7-for-14 shooting, adding in five rebounds as well as three steals on the defensive end. Ryan Miles-Ferguson added 15 points, most coming on 3-point field goals where he shot 4-for-9 from distance.

Coming off the bench, Luke Adams scored 17 points to lead the Brewers, going 6-for-9 from the floor with five 3-point field goals. Three others finished in double figures for Vassar, and Logan Scott had 12 rebounds and three assists.