Potsdam, NY – A poor shooting performance from the Clarkson University Men’s Basketball team coupled with a solid game plan from Vassar College provided the Brewers with an upset, as they downed the Golden Knights 63-54 in Liberty League action Friday evening at Alumni Gymnasium.

The Golden Knights fell to 14-8 overall and 7-6 in the Liberty League, while Vassar improved to 7-14 and 3-9. Clarkson will try to keep its playoff hopes alive on Saturday when it hosts Bard, while the Brewers will travel to St. Lawrence.

Clarkson struggled from the field to start the game, as Vassar jumped out to a 13-2 lead by holding the Knights to a 0-for-7 performance in the first seven minutes with a handful of turnovers. Clarkson finally got on the board with a field goal when Nate Uline (Gansevoort, NY) converted on the interior at the 12:17 mark. While Vassar continued to make shots from outside, the Knights got on track with mid-range jumpers and free throws, tying the game at 27-27 when John Coleman (Potsdam, NY) made a steal and hit a lay up with less than four minutes remaining in the half. A tip in by Uline with less than a minute to go put Clarkson up by a point at intermission, an impressive comeback considering the slow start.

The second half started much like the first, but for Clarkson’s shooters it was actually worse. Clarkson didn’t score until nearly five minutes had expired in the second half, and didn’t make a basket until Felix Llanos (Queens, NY) made a shot on the break with nearly nine minutes gone. The Knights made just one field goal attempt until Jerry Coleman (Potsdam, NY) hit a 3-pointer with 6:51 to go in the game, and at that point Clarkson trailed by double figures. Meanwhile, Vassar employed a solid game plan by slowing the pace down and using penetration and kicks to get open shots.

Following a 3-pointer from Llanos at the 3:42 mark, Clarkson trailed by just eight points, but Vassar continued to get to the rim and make free throws when the chances were there, while the Knights couldn’t keep things going. Tyler Barron (Burlington, VT) made a 3-pointer in the waning seconds to get Clarkson back within nine points, but that marked only two times that Clarkson was within 10 over the final 16 minutes of the game.

Llanos finished with 19 points and was the only player in double figures for Clarkson, while John Coleman chipped in nine points, six rebounds, and three steals. Clarkson shot just 8-for-27 (29.6%) in the second half, while the Brewers went 12-for-26 for a 46.2% clip.

Jon Herzog led all scorers with 22 points despite being in foul trouble, while Nick Justiz slowed the game down at the point and had 12 points and eight rebounds. Johnny Mrlik also added 10 points and nine boards for Vassar.