POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y.—Jesse Browne's 3-pointer with four and a half minutes remaining propelled Vassar College to a 75-66 win over Hobart College in Liberty League men's basketball action tonight. Browne produced a game-high 31 points for the Brewers.
 
Browne's fifth of six triples broke a string of traded baskets over a four minute span that saw Vassar take a 2-point lead and Hobart tie the contest a few moments later. The Brewers were able to keep the lead down the stretch by going 3-of-4 from the floor and 7-of-10 at the free throw line.
 
The Statesmen were led by Jamal Lucas' 21 points and three blocked shots. Luke Ruddy added 9 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
 
Hobart trailed by as many as 7 in the early minutes of the second half, but a 3-pointer by junior Pete Drescher and three straight free throws by first-year Sean McKinless to make it a 42-41 game. Vassar ran its lead back out to 48-42, but again the Statesmen responded, using a 9-3 run to set up the back-and-forth before Browne's big shot.
 
Hobart shot just 36 percent from the floor, including 21 percent from behind the 3-point arc, and 69 percent at the free throw line. The Statesmen committed just eight turnovers while forcing 14. However, the Brewers had a 40-27 rebounding advantage and shot 47 percent from the floor, 33 percent from deep, and 70 percent at the line.
 
Behind a 52 percent shooting effort, Vassar (10-10, 6-5) led 35-29 at halftime. Brown had 16 points in the first 20 minutes of the game. Lucas led Hobart with 11 at the half.
 
Hobart (9-11, 5-6) is back in action on Saturday, Feb. 6, when the Statesmen visit Bard. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.