Box Score | RPI Athletics on Instagram

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - Guard Jesse Browne scored a career-high 24 points to lead the Vassar College men's basketball team to a 70-62 win over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in a Liberty League contest. The Brewers improve to 5-7 and 1-2, while the Engineers, who were paced by Tom Horvat's 17 points, are now 7-7 and 1-4.

Horvat, who also had four rebounds and four assists was one of three from RPI to reach double figures in scoring, along with seniors Chase Almond and Tyler Gendron. Almond scored 13 points with six rebounds and Gendron had 11 points and a team-best eight rebounds. 

Browne made 12 of 22 shots on the other end, including four three-pointers, to set a new personal standard. He also had four rebounds and three assists. Erikson Wasyl had 19 points, thanks in part to five hoops from behind the arc, along with six rebounds while playing all 40 minutes. Mickey Adams added 10 points on 5 of 8 shooting with seven rebounds.

The first half of the contest was tight throughout with the largest lead being six points, which Vassar claimed, 19-13 following a three-pointer by Wasyl at 10:27. The Engineers came back and tied the game at 21-21 on a three-pointer from Jonathan Luster with 6:50 to play in the half and then took the lead on a Marcus Giese basket 40 seconds later. The first half ended with the score tied, 31-31.

The contest remained even through the first six minutes of the second half, before the Brewers went on a run to turn a 41-39 edge to a 50-41 lead at 11:05. A Gendron three-pointer at 8:25 pulled the visitors back to within four points (50-46), but Vassar scored nine of the next 10 points for a 59-47 lead. Browne had five points and Adams four in that stretch.

RPI is now on a break from games, returning to the court on January 22 against St. Lawrence University at home (8pm). Vassar hosts Skidmore College on Friday at 8pm. Both games are Liberty League contests.