POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The top two teams in the Liberty League squared off for the second time this season, but it was visiting Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) coming out ahead with the 60-57 victory on Saturday afternoon. No team led by more than seven points, with the game coming down to the final minute. RPI currently sits in first place at 16-4 overall and 10-3 in the Liberty League. Vassar moves to 14-6 overall and 10-4 in the conference.

The Brewers jumped out to a seven-point lead when Avni Mustafaj netted four-straight points, but RPI's Avery Eugster responded with four points to make it 11-8 for the home team.

Vassar continued to hold a slight lead until a fast break layup by Jonny Angazo lessened the margin to two, and then Angbazo sank a pair of free throws to tie the score 14-14 at 9:34. Mustafaj helped the Brewers retake the lead, but Eugster hit a three-pointer at 6:59 to give the Engineers their first advantage at 19-17.

Kevin McAuliffe answered with a trey, and it was a back-and-forth affair after with neither side pulling away. Three ties followed, and with the score at 27-27, RPI scored the following three points. Mustafaj closed out the half, scoring on two jump shots to give the Brewers a 31-30 lead at the break.

In the second, the teams traded baskets until Anbazo sank a jumper to begin a 6-0 Engineers run until Zach Johnson broke the streak at 15:55. More of the same followed, and Logan Scott hit a triple at 12:10 to put the Brewers ahead 47-46. Will Fredericks scored on the next RPI possession, and then both teams had a three-minute scoring drought. Angbazo gave the Engineers a three-point lead when he netted a layup at 8:13.

The final five minutes showed that it was going to be close until the final buzzer, and after Mustafaj converted a pair of free throws, the Brewers led 57-56 with 1:10 remaining. Dom Black scored for RPI, and the Brewers turned the ball over and were forced to foul. Black made his free throws putting the score at 60-57 with 10 seconds left, and the Brewers could not get another shot off.

Angbazo topped the Engineers by netting 25 points on 10-of-14 shooting, while Patrick Mahoney scored 10. Mason Memmelaar collected eight rebounds.

Mustafaj led Vassar scoring 19 points, and added six rebounds. McAuliffe tacked on 12 points, going 4-of-5 from three-point range. Johnson was in some early foul trouble but grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.