Box Score
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - As interesting as the recent history between Bard and Vassar is in men's basketball, a more troubling history is starting to emerge for the Raptors this season.

They have led RPI, RIT, Hobart and Vassar in the second half of each game. And they've lost each game ... by eight to RPI, by six to RIT, by 12 to Hobart, and by seven to Vassar, 66-59, Tuesday night to fall to 0-4 in the Liberty League.

This game was another physical, tight battle, typical of what has become an increasingly intense rivalry with the Brewers. To provide a little context, consider that when Bard joined the Liberty League in the 2011-12 season, Vassar had won 24 of 25 meetings and 12 in a row since 1995. But after joining the league, Bard was 3-1 against Vassar heading into Tuesday night and 0-31 against everyone else.

Even though Vassar is considered a Liberty League playoff contender this year, recent history suggested this would be a thriller, and it was. Bard held a slight lead for most of the first half, but it was tied, 26-26, at halftime.

The lead went back and forth early in the second half, but slowly, Vassar created a little cushion. After taking what would be their final lead, 36-34, with 14:47 left in the game, the Raptors went scoreless for about three minutes. It eventually became an 8-2 run for the Brewers, who led, 44-38, with 10:47 to go.

After Bard cut it to two, Vassar pushed it back to six with about seven minutes left. With five minutes to go, the lead was 11.

But the Raptors weren't done. An 8-2 run, culminating with a jumper from Siondueh Burnette, made it 60-55 with 3:33 to go. The key juncture of the game followed, intensified by a couple of van loads of Bard students who were at the game in full throat.

A layup by Burnette with 1:24 left cut Vassar's lead to 62-59, and Bard immediately went to a full-court press. Vassar turned it over, Burnette making the steal, to give Bard the ball with 1:13 to go, down three - sending the Bard fans into a frenzy.

Senior Lamar Powell missed a layup in the lane five seconds later, and Johnny Mrlik (San Francisco, CA) scored off his own miss down at the other end with 35 seconds left. A couple of desperation three-pointers didn't go for Bard in those final moments, and Vassar had its second straight win over Bard after three straight losses.

Vassar is 11-3 overall, 3-2 in the Liberty League. Bard is 5-8, 0-4, and has to be feeling frustrated after another close loss.

The Raptors succeeded in holding the best three-point shooting team in the league to 2-for-10, but certainly couldn't have expected the career-high 25 points scored by junior forward Luka Ladan (Belmont, MA). Mrlik added 19 points and seven rebounds, including 13-of-14 from the free throw line, and the Brewers outrebounded Bard, 34-24.

Powell had 19 points, and Burnette finished with 17 points and five rebounds for Bard.

The Raptors next host St. Lawrence and Clarkson on Friday and Saturday, respectively, as the Liberty League grind continues. Friday's game is at 8, Saturday's is at 4, and you can follow both games live right here.