BRONXVILLE, N.Y. - The Sarah Lawrence men's basketball team fell to the visiting Albertus Magnus Falcons by a score of 68-56 on Tuesday night after a strong stretch late in the first half by the visitors.

Notable Performers

• Eamon Kelly connected from deep four times for 16 points and seven rebounds
• Chris Dougherty added 15 points and nine boards while blocking a shot
• Gavin Wright provided a spark off the bench with five points and three steals

How it Happened

The Gryphons and Falcons went blow-for-blow early, with SLC's seniors putting in early work as Kelly, Dougherty and Braden Burman all found the bottom of the net in the first five minutes. Back-to-back triples by Kelly and Thomas Matonti gave the Gryphons a 14-10 advantage with just under 15 minutes to play, giving the hosts some momentum. Albertus's Ray Ford Jr. immediately answered with a pair of triples to return the lead to the visitors and silence the home crowd. Some more senior scored put the Gryphons back ahead, as Dean Furlong and Dougherty scored back-to-back buckets and once again flipped the lead to the hosts. With just under 11 minutes to play, the game was tied once again, but first year Gabe Downes stepped into a three-pointer that got the Campbell Sports Center going and gave the Gryphons another lead. Both teams would go scoreless for over two minutes before a score by the visitors broke the drought and closed the gap to a single point. The visitors added a pair of free throws to regain the lead but on the next SLC possession Kelly would strike from distance to put the hosts back in control. This time, the answer from the Falcons would do more than return the lead to the visitors. A 14-0 run by Albertus would not only erase SLC's advantage, but would put the Falcons up by double-digits with three minutes remaining in the half. Burman was able to stop the bleeding with a spotless trip to the line with just over a minute to play, but that would be all for the Gryphons as the visitors headed into the break with a 12-point advantage.

Another scoring run by the visitors out of the break removed any electricity from the gym, taking nine straight points and holding the hosts scoreless throughout the first four minutes of the period. Kelly would step up with a triple in response, but an immediate answer by the visitors kept momentum on the side of the Falcons. Shortly after entering the game, Gavin Wright knocked down a corner triple off a pass from Kelly, getting the gym buzzing despite a 17-point deficit. After an Albertus bucket, Kelly and Furlong each found Dougherty for baskets, first a triple from the top of the key and then an inside score with 12:40 remaining. Neither team would score until the visitors netted a tip-in at 10:53 and it would be Wright to break the drought for the Gryphons with a jumper on the right wing with under ten remaining. The Gryphons continued to convert, as Burman, Kelly and Dougherty all put in buckets, but answers from the visitors kept the lead in double-digits throughout the middle of the second half. With under three minutes to play, Andrew Kim found Furlong for a triple that cut the lead to single-digits. Much like the rest of the half, the visitors would answer, sinking a triple in response and keeping the Falcons ahead. Late points from Burman and Dougherty would not bridge the gap and the Falcons would return to New Haven with a win.

Up Next

The Gryphons (3-6) will return to action on Saturday, December 13th, as they kick off conference play in Riverdale, N.Y. against Mount Saint Vincent. The game will tip off at noon from the Peter Jay Sharp Center as both teams look to start conference play with a victory.