FARMINGDALE, N.Y. - The Sarah Lawrence men's basketball team kicked off the 2019 calender year in impressive fashion, knocking off first-place Farmingdale State, 98-96, Thursday at Nold Hall.
Enike Anyia scored a career-high 32 points, while
Austin Jones hit the game-winning basket with 0.5 seconds remaining in regulation, as the Gryphons picked up their first-ever victory over the Rams.
IN SHORT
Sarah Lawrence (7-5, 5-2) def. Farmingdale State (7-5, 5-2), 98-96.
TOP GRYPHON PERFORMERS
Anyia had a spectacular game out of the break, tying Max Mallory (2011) for the most points scored in a single game in team history. The sophomore became the third player in program history to record 30 or more points in a game, joining Mallory and teammate
BJ Sanders (2018). Anyia made 12 field goals in the contest, a new school record, surpassing Sanders' 11 made field goals earlier in the year against Regis. In addition to his strong shooting effort, Anyia contributed team-highs in rebounds (9) and steals (4).
Omar Jamaleddine had a strong outing in his first-ever meeting against the Rams, posting 20 points and eight rebounds.
Gabriel Eng finished with 13 points and a pair of steals, while Sanders added 11 points seven rebounds, six assists and a pair of blocks. Jones notched 11 points, five rebounds and four assists in the win.
Overall, all Gryphon participants scored in the squad's first victory of 2019.
RECAP
Sarah Lawrence raced out to a 10-2 lead in the first 2:52 of the contest, capped off by a triple from Jamaleddine. The Rams, who entered the day first in the standings, countered with a 12-2 spurt to take the lead (14-12) with 14:11 remaining in the half.
The Gryphons regained the lead, using a 13-3 run, highlighted by eight unanswered points, to hold a 25-17 cushion with 9:33 on the clock. Farmingdale State, picked to finish second in the Skyline Preseason Poll, battled back to take a 32-31 edge with 6:05 remaining in the stanza.
Later in the period, knotted 34-34 with 5:16 on the clock, the Rams outscored the Gryphons 15-7 over 3:23 to hold a 49-41 advantage with 1:53 to play. Sarah Lawrence chipped away at the deficit with six straight points, but a 3-pointer from the Rams in the final seconds sent them into the locker room with a 52-47 lead. The Gryphons' 47 points are the most scored in the first half this season.
Farmingdale State opened the second half with back-to-back baskets to take its largest lead of the game (56-47). The Gryphons battled back, going on an 18-2 run over 4:47 for a 65-58 lead with 16:08 remaining in regulation.
Sarah Lawrence, who entered the day 0-7 all-time against Farmingdale State, continued to overwhelm the Rams offensively, holding a 79-64 lead with 8:12 left in the half.
Farmingdale State stormed back for a frantic ending, tying the game at 96 with 12.9 seconds left in the game. On the following possession, Jones hit a floater in the paint to secure the win.
It's the second time this season and fifth in program history that Sarah Lawrence has scored 90 or more points in a game. The last time came in a 91-88 victory at Yeshiva, the defending conference champions.
It was the Gryphons' third road win of the season, their most since the 2013-14 campaign.
UP NEXT
Sarah Lawrence returns to the floor on Saturday (Jan. 5) against Old Westbury at Campbell Sports Center. Game time is set for 1 p.m.
