Contributed by Roland Wynter '17

On Saturday, Feb. 28, Sarah Lawrence College men's basketball will be facing off against NCAA Division I New Jersey Institute of Technology in SLC's final game of the season. The Gryphons will be traveling to the 1,500 capacity Fleisher Athletic Center in Newark, New Jersey to test their abilities against the D-I independent team brandishing a 16-11 record.
 
This game will be Sarah Lawrence College's first-ever head-to-head contest against an NCAA Division I team, and while the competition will be challenging, it will prove to be a valuable experience in testing Sarah Lawrence's abilities against such a capable and decorated team.
 
"This will be a great experience for our players," noted Head Coach Chris Ehmer. "When NJIT contacted us, I jumped at the opportunity to give our student-athletes the chance to play in that environment."
 
"I see it as a great experience for not only myself but the entire team," described first-year player Logan Dubek (Tempe, Ariz./Corona del Sol). "I've dreamed of playing in a Division I game all of my life, so it will be a really fun experience to see what it's like to play at that level."

In December, the Highlanders made national headlines by defeating the No. 17 team in the nation, Michigan, in what many consider to be the biggest upset of this college basketball season. NJIT has also beaten big-time schools such as Yale and Maryland-Eastern Shore, while taking on smaller programs like St. Joseph's College Brooklyn and Fisher College. With a scoring average of 70.5 versus 67.3 from their opponents, a 45.3% field goal percentage, and an average height of 6'4", NJIT is a force to be reckoned with.
 
Come Saturday, the Sarah Lawrence Gryphons will be ready to challenge the extremely successful NJIT team at their home arena. As always, the Gryphons are hoping to come away with a victory. Regardless of the outcome, the team will gain further insights into their strengths and weaknesses. They will have one more tape to review, and one more chance to strive for victory with the same conviction they have possessed all season. This game will undoubtedly be perceived by the entire team and coaching staff as an opportunity to gain further understanding of the goals they must set in preparation for their upcoming 2015-16 season.
 
"We are approaching this game just like any other game," observed Dubek. "We've been working on our chemistry and skills in practice to help prepare for the off season and the upcoming season next year. This game is a great test to see how much we can do physically and mentally."

The contest between the Sarah Lawrence College and New Jersey Institute of Technology will prove the final hurdle in SLC's 2014-15 men's basketball season. The duration of the current season has proven arduous due to the heightened competition of the Skyline Conference and numerous injuries which have riddled the Gryphons roster, but these obstacles are only serving to augment each student-athletes' sense of purpose in pursuing victory.

Through these difficulties, the Sarah Lawrence team has shown true character, originating from the perseverance and determination of their players. Captain Graham Gilleran (San Francisco, Calif./Archbishop Riordan) fought through a mid-season injury and is back in action, and players such as Nikos Efstratudakis (London, Ontario/American Community School of Athens) and Malin Segal (Marblehead, Mass./Concord Academy) tirelessly attended every game and practice while their injuries restrained them to the bench.
 
"Obviously, we didn't win as many games as I'd have hoped this season," remarked Coach Ehmer, "but we came together as a team. Our underclassmen got a lot of experience that will carry over to future seasons."

According to Dubek, "We've definitely improved significantly since the beginning of the season. We've grown a lot closer as a team, and as we develop our game, our potential will only increase."
 
As for Saturday's game, Coach Ehmer is preparing with optimism. "We're the underdog, but in sports, anything can happen. Even if we don't win, our players will get a chance to feel the difference of playing a Division I opponent."
 
With such a tenacious team mentality, it is no surprise the Gryphons are approaching Saturday's game with expectations of victory. Action tips off at 2:30 p.m. Live stats are available online, and fans can stream live video for a fee.