HARTFORD, Conn. – Sophomore John Mrlik (San Francisco, Calif.) poured in 23 points, hitting six of nine shots from the field, four of seven from long range, and all seven of his free throws, to lead the Vassar College Brewers to a 60-54 win over the Wentworth Institute of Technology Leopards in the opening round of the Trinity College Men's Basketball Holiday Invitational this evening in Oosting Gymnasium. Vassar improves to 6-1 after an 0-1 start and will face the host Trinity Bantams in the finals tomorrow at Noon. Wentworth drops to 3-5 and will play the University of Maine-Fort Kent Bengals in the consolation game tomorrow at 2 p.m. Trinity downed Maine-Fort Kent in the other first round game tonight, 84-45.
Vassar scored seven of the final nine points of the first half to turn a 26-all tie into a 33-28 lead at the break. Junior guard Curtis Smith (Mastic, N.Y.) drilled a three-pointer with less than 10 seconds on the clock for the Brewers. Mrlik had 16 of his points in the opening 20 minutes and senior tri-captain Derek Mayo (Casco, Maine) had 12 of his career-high 28 points at halftime for Wentworth.
The Leopards fought back and took a 38-37 lead four minutes into the second half on a traditional three-point play by Mayo. After a Vassar turnover and a put-back by Mayo gave the Leopards a 40-37 lead, junior forward Luke Ladan (Belmont, Mass.) scored on a layup and Mrlik made a three-pointer to give Vassar back the lead for good. Wentworth cut its deficit to a single point three more times the rest of the way but Vassar held them off each time. Leopard junior forward John-Michael Fragnoli (Scotia, N.Y.) scored off an offensive rebound to make the score, 56-54, inside the final minute, but Ladan answered with a bucket for Vassar and the Leopards misfired on two long three-pointers down the stretch.
Vassar more than doubled Wentworth's rebounding total with 50 against just 23 for the Leopards and held Wentworth to 32.8 percent shooting from the field, but committed 21 turnovers. Ladan joined Mrlik in double figures in scoring for Vassar with 13 points and added five rebounds, while senior tri-captain forward Evan Carberry (Metuchen, N.J.) grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds, junior forward Alex Snyder (Rutland, Vt.) added 10 boards, and sophomore guard Erikson Wayl (Durham, Conn.) dished out five assists. Mayo added seven boards and three steals to his 28 points for Wentworth. Fragnoli and sophomore Ronnie Turner (Lewiston, Maine) had six points apiece.
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Colon Named CCC Rookie of the Week
February 27, 2014
Men's Basketball Falls to Gordon in CCC Semifinals
February 25, 2014
Mayo, Colon Named All-Commonwealth Coast Conference
February 25, 2014
Men's Basketball Pulls off Upset at Eastern Nazarene
February 22, 2014
Men's Basketball Edged in Regular-Season Finale
February 22, 2014
CCC Men's Basketball Tournament Pairings Set
February 19, 2014
Strong Second Half Powers Endicott Past Men's Basketball
February 15, 2014
Men's Basketball Edged at Roger Williams
February 12, 2014
Donato's Buzzer Beater Lifts Men's Basketball Past Western New England
February 8, 2014
Men's Basketball Suffers Setback at Eastern Nazarene
February 4, 2014
Men's Basketball Cruises to 10th Win of the Season
February 1, 2014
Second Half Run Pushes Gordon Past Men's Basketball
January 29, 2014
Men's Basketball Sees Three-Game Skid Come to and End
January 23, 2014
Endicott Works Overtime to Defeat Men's Basketball
January 20, 2014
Colon Repeats as Rookie of the Week
January 18, 2014
Men's Basketball Falls at Nichols
January 15, 2014
Men's Basketball Holds on For Win
January 13, 2014
Colon Earns CCC Rookie of the Week Honors
January 11, 2014
Men's Basketball Rallies Past Roger Williams
January 9, 2014
Men's Basketball Win Streak Halted by Eastern Nazarene
January 7, 2014
Long-Range Shooting Helps Men's Basketball Win Third Straight
January 4, 2014
Strong Defensive Effort Lifts Men's Basketball to Win at Gordon
December 31, 2013
Men's Basketball Rolls to Win Over Maine-Fort Kent
December 30, 2013
Vassar Fends Off Men's Basketball
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Colon Earns CCC Rookie Rookie of the Week Honors
December 7, 2013
Balanced Attack Paces Men's Basketball to Win over Curry
December 4, 2013
Men's Basketball Falls in Conference Opener
November 26, 2013
Men's Basketball Pulls Away in Second Half
November 25, 2013
Turner Named CCC Men's Basketball Rookie of the Week
November 23, 2013
Tufts Rallies in Second Half to Defeat Men's Basketball
November 21, 2013
Clark Overtakes Men's Basketball in Second Half
November 16, 2013
Late Run Pushes Framingham State Past Men's Basketball
November 15, 2013
Men's Basketball Opens Season With a Win
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Men's Basketball Picked to Finish Seventh in CCC Pre-Season Poll
October 19, 2013
Five Inducted Into Athletic Hall of Fame
July 23, 2013
Arlen Galloway Named Head Men's Basketball Coach