BRONXVILLE, N.Y. - The Sarah Lawrence men's basketball team secured the second seed in the Skyline Conference Tournament after ending the first half on a 13-2 run to carry a double-digit advantage into the intermission.

Notable Performers

• Thomas Matonti scored a career-best 20 points, hitting six of eight three-pointers
• Eamon Kelly scored 14 points, in addition to distributing four assists and pulling down five rebounds

How it Happened

The Valiants got going early, scoring the first 11 points of the contest and forcing an SLC timeout just three minutes into the game. The hosts would respond after the stoppage, slowly chipping away at the lead until Matonti's first triple of the night cut the lead to just two points with under 13 minutes to play. Kelly and Matonti would each strike from distance on SLC's two ensuing possessions, with Matonti's second make cutting the lead to just one and erasing Manhattanville's early double-digit advantage. Despite the offensive surge by the Gryphons, the Valiants would maintain a one-to-two possession lead until another Matonti triple with just under four minutes remaining in the half. An immediate response swung the advantage back to the visitors but a 13-2 run would ensue as the Gryphons mounted a furious run heading into halftime. An Aiden Morel three-pointer kickstarted the run while three scores by Lemar Fulmore Jr. helped the Gryphons carry a 10-point advantage into the halftime intermission.

A pair of triples and a strong start to the second half for the Valiants tied the game at 48 with 12 minutes remaining. Another score by the visitors gave them their first lead of the half with 10:54 remaining, erasing SLC's double-digit halftime lead. The next Gryphons' possession saw Braden Burman connect from long range, but the teams would remain close, each holding the lead with under 10 minutes to play before finding themselves tied with 5:18 to play. Andrew Kim scored to break the tie and a few minutes later, Matonti would hit back-to-back threes to give SLC a seven-point advantage with 1:30 remaining. Kyle Jefferson hit a big pair of free throws in the final minute of play that secured the program-best 13th Skyline victory of the season for the Gryphons.

Up Next

The Gryphons (17-8, Skyline 13-3) will return to action in Bronxville on Tuesday, February 25th as they host the First Round of the Skyline Men's Basketball Championships. The second-seeded Gryphons will welcome the seventh-seeded Dolphins of Mount Saint Vincent to the Campbell Sports Center at 7:00 p.m.