BRONXVILLE, N.Y. – Trailing by one with 1.1 seconds remaining in the second half, Sammy Marshall of the Sarah Lawrence College men's basketball team stepped to the free throw line with a chance to win the game for the Gryphons.

The junior from New Paltz, N.Y. knocked down the first shot with ease, knotting the game at 67. After assuring that his guys were ready for the next defensive possession, Marshall walked back to the line for the second free throw. The ref tossed him the basketball then Marshall dribbled once and took his shot. The ball slightly grazed the back of the rim and fell through the net, giving Sarah Lawrence the lead and sealing the victory. The Gryphons defeated Haverford College Fords 68-67 in the home opener on Saturday afternoon.

NUMBERS

• Marshall was the high-man for the Gryphons, dropping a career-high 13 points.
• Liam Barry notched a double-double, going for 10 points and 12 boards.
• David Gelb dropped 10 points, shooting 4-6 from the field in 17 minutes.
• Lucas Murray had seven points and 10 rebounds.
• Jelani Jackson scored 10 points, going a perfect 5-5 from the line.
• The Gryphons' defense held the Fords to a 27 percent field goal percentage.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Haverford jumped out to an early 14-5 lead nearly six minutes into the contest. The Fords' edge grew to 11 with just under six minutes until halftime. The Gryphons clawed their way back, closing out the half on a 16-5 spurt, gaining contributions from Marshall, Bailey, and Amos Grey. Jelani Jackson knocked down a three, evening the score at 34 just before the break. The teams went into the intermission deadlocked.

The Gryphons earned their first lead of the day at 18:49 mark of the second half when Jacked hit a free throw, putting SLC up 37-36. Haverford went up 39-38 with 17 minutes remaining and did not surrender the lead again until Chris Torres made it 61-61 at the 4:20 mark. Liam Barry converted on an and-one a minute late, giving SLC a three-point cushion. The Fords got one back with a free throw on the next possession and then Lucas Murray sank two free throws on the following Gryphons possession, making it 66-62 in favor of SLC near the two-minute mark.

Haverford strung together a mini 5-0 run, taking a 67-66 lead with just nine seconds left. After a missed free throw from the Fords, Jelani Jackson grabbed a huge rebound with seven seconds remaining and found Marshall who dribbled the ball the length of the court, drove to the lane and got fouled. Marshall sank both free throws, solidifying the final score.

UP NEXT
The Gryphons host York on Tuesday, November 16 at 6:00 p.m.