Box Score

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Behind a 19-point, 10-rebound performance from junior Lawrence Avitabile (Southington, CT/Southington), Vassar defeated Liberty League opponent Rensselaer , 63-51, in a men's basketball game. The Brewers improve to 8-4 on the season, including 2-1 in conference play, while RPI falls to 8-6 and 1-2.

An 11-0 run by the Brewers to start the second half turned a 32-24 halftime lead into a 19-point cushion. Five points by sophomore Brian Butterworth (Hamilton, MA/Hamilton-Wenham) and four by Avitabile keyed the Vassar run. The Brewers held the Red Hawks scoreless until Devin Galvin (Newburyport, MA/Newburyport) sank two free throws with 16:18 remaining in the game. The Brewers maintained their lead throughout the final 20 minutes, never allowing the Red Hawks to cut the Vassar advantage to single digits.

In the first half, RPI jumped out to a quick 8-2 lead thanks to five points from junior Sam Simmons (Newburgh, NY/Newburgh Free Academy). However, two consecutive Joe Davis (East Amherst, NY/St. Joseph’s Institute) baskets gave Vassar a 10-8 lead with 13:12 remaining in the
half. The Brewers jumped out to their biggest lead of the half after Butterworth drained a three-pointer to give Vassar a 25-17 lead with 3:25 remaining before halftime. Vassar maintained this eight-point lead heading into the locker room thanks to a jumper in the lane by Avitabile with 11 seconds remaining in the half.

Butterworth chipped in 15 points for the Brewers on 3-for-5 shooting from behind the arc while senior William Kieffer (Chappaqua, NY/Horace Greely) added seven points and eight rebounds.

For the Red Hawks, sophomore Dan Rourke (Scotia, NY/Scotia-Glenville) had a team-high 12 points while Simmons added 10 points.