Non-Conference Slate Closed in Loss to WestConn

By Steven Merritt

DANBURY, CT – The Vassar College Men’s Basketball closed its non-conference schedule in the final day of the Hat City Classic on Saturday afternoon as the Brewers dropped a 80-58 contest to Western Connecticut State at Feldman Arena. Vassar falls to 3-7 overall while the Wolves improve to 10-2 on the season.

First Half
Both teams came out firing in the early minutes as two free throws from junior Luke Adams put Vassar ahead 7-5 at the 17:54 mark.

The Wolves scored the next eight points to take a 13-7 lead, led by four points from Alfonso Stokes, at the first media timeout.

Senior Logan Scott’s three-point play along with a putback from first year Sebastian Medina brought the Brewers within three with 14:12 remaining.

WestConn went on an 8-1 run over the next three minutes as a layup from Jeremiah Williams put the Wolves up by 10 at the midway point of the first half.

Sophomore JP Miranda and junior Alex Walters each knocked down a triple to cut the Wolves lead down to two with 4:33 to go.

Vassar regained the lead for the first time since the 17:54 mark on two free throws from Scott with 1:51 remaining before Stokes scored the final five points of the half for the Wolves to take a 37-33 lead at the half.

The Brewers closed the first half shooting 39.1-percent overall while knocking down five threes and shot 10-for-14 at the free throw line. WestConn finished the first 20 minutes shooting 44.1-percent from the field and were just 1-for-8 from three-point distance.

Scott led the way for Vassar with seven points in the first half while Miranda knocked down two triples and Adams added five points.

Stokes recorded 11 points for the Wolves in the opening half along with Cameron Gallon adding nine points on a perfect 4-for-4 from the field.

Second Half
WestConn opened the half with a quick six point spurt as Gallon tallied all six to go ahead 43-33 before a triple from first year Shea Fitzgerald slowed the run.

Buckets from Miranda and Scott brought the Brewers within three at the 15:16 mark followed by Fitzgerald knocking down a three to get to 47-45 with 13:46 to go.

Vassar took the lead at 49-48 at the 11:28 mark on a jumper from Adams before the Wolves went on a 8-2 run to regain the lead at 58-51 with eight minutes remaining.

The Wolves expanded their lead to 10 on a lay-in from Stokes with 6:31 left in the game before five straight points from Jaheim Young pushed the advantage to 15 points.

WestConn’s lead grew to a game-high 25 points on a putback dunk and a layup from Young with one minute left in the contest.

Vassar finished the second half shooting 40-percent from the field and converted three three-pointers while the Wolves closed the second half shooting 42.9-percent overall and made two triples while outscoring the Brewers by nine at the free throw line.

For The Brewers
Scott led the way with 13 points on 5-for-5 from the field along with three boards and two steals.

Fitzgerald and Adams each added nine points while Adams had a team-best five assists.
Miranda finished with eight points and Medina tallied four points and a team-high eight rebounds.

For The Wolves
Stokes recorded a game-high 19 points on 6-for-11 shooting and added four rebounds and three steals.

Gallon, Williams and Young each poured in 15 points as Young had a team-high five steals and Gallon plucked a team-best six rebounds.

James Rhodes chipped in six points, five rebounds and three steals.