Vassar Earns Season Series Sweep Over Clarkson

POTSDAM – The Vassar College Men’s Basketball team rebounded with a strong 70-51 victory over Clarkson on the road on Saturday afternoon behind a balanced scoring attack, led by 16 points from sophomore Parker Neuenhaus. The Brewers record improves to 13-5 overall and 9-2 in Liberty League play while the Golden Knights drop to 9-10 on the season and 4-8 in conference action.

First Half
Following a layup from Braden Burns to make it 4-4 early, Vassar reeled off a 9-0 run behind buckets from senior Sacha Greenbeg, junior Shea Fitzgerald and junior Kreekor Karageuzina along with a Neuenhaus triple.

Tyson Maxam’s jumper with 11:43 remaining cut the lead to 17-11 before a lay-in from Neuenhaus and two free throws from Greenberg expanded the lead to 21-11 with 8:31 left.

A triple from Grayson Wallace cut the deficit to 21-14 until the Brewers used a 6-0 run, led by makes from first year Gyasi Zinn, junior Eric Zhang and Neuenhaus, to go ahead by 13 at 27-14.

Two free throws from Steve DeRegis and a layup from Lorenzo Rappa trimmed the lead to single digits at 29-21 with 2:38 to go in the first half.

The Brewers closed the half on a 7-2 run, led by a three-pointer from junior Sebastian Medina, a Neuenhaus jumper and two Fitzgerald free throws, to take a 36-23 lead into halftime.

Vassar closed the first half shooting 42.9-percent overall but converted just 2-for-14 from three-point territory.

Clarkson was held to 22.6-percent from the field and struggled beyond the three-point line at 2-for-18.

Second Half
Vassar’s lead ballooned to 18 points coming out of the half as a Neuenhaus three-pointer and a Karageuzian jumper put the Brewers ahead 41-23.

A dunk from senior Nathan Denham and a layup from Fitzgerald increased the lead to 20 with 16:28 remaining in the second half.

Two free throws from Burns brought the lead within 19 but four points from sophomore Will Gregory and a jumper from Fitzgerald pushed VC ahead 57-32.

A quick 6-0 run from the Golden Knights trimmed the lead to 57-38 with 9:35 to go until another dunk from Denham extended the lead back to 22 points at 64-42.

Two free throws from Burns whittled the advantage down to 64-47 with 3:19 remaining in regulation.

Vassar scored the next six points over the next minute behind free throws from first year Kas Mirza and Medina along with a jumper from Zhang to put the Brewers back ahead by 20-plus points at 70-47 at the 2:13 mark.

VC finished the final 20 minutes shooting 44.4-percent overall while going 3-for-5 from three and 7-for-7 from the free throw line.

Clarkson closed the second half shooting just 27.3-percent from the field, including 3-for-21 from three, and 7-for-9 from the free throw line.

For The Brewers
Neuenhaus posted a game-high 16 points, six rebounds and three assists while Fitzgerald recorded 11 points, four boards and two assists.

Gregory registered 10 points off the bench along with Denham garnering six points, eight rebounds, three steals and two assists.

Medina chipped in seven points while Karageuzian tallied four points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Greenberg added six points and eight rebounds and Zinn registered four points and a team-high 12 rebounds.

For The Golden Knights
Maxam scored a team-high 12 points off the bench while Nate Abernethy posted 10 points and four rebounds.

Rappa added 10 points, four steals and three rebounds along with Burns recording nine points and six rebounds.

DeRegis chipped in three assists and four rebounds.