BRONXVILLE, N.Y. - The Sarah Lawrence men's basketball team trailed by eight at the halftime intermission, but a 39-point second half led the Gryphons to a nine-point win over the visiting Golden Eagles of St. Joseph's Long Island.

Notable Performers

• Andrew Kim led all players with 19 points, adding four assists and two steals
• Braden Burman scored 13 points while pulling down eight rebounds
• Gabe Downes earned his first collegiate start, scoring eight points, grabbing seven rebounds and distributing three assists

How it Happened

The two teams went back-and-forth at the start of the game, with an early Eamon Kelly triple tying the game at five points apiece. The teams traded scores before being knotted up at 7-7, but four straight points by the visitors returned the lead to the Golden Eagles. Again the teams would trade scores, but a three-point play and a quick 6-0 run by SJLI put the visitors up by ten with 8:48 remaining in the half. Kim would find Burman to stop the run, but an answer from distance by SJLI's Matthew Maxwell kept the visitors in control. The teams traded scores again, but with six minutes remaining it was an 11-point lead for SJLI. Eamon Kelly scored inside while Kyle Jefferson struck from the line to bring the lead down to seven, but two answers from the line by the Golden Eagles kept it a nine-point game with three minutes to play. Burman hit a triple with 2:35 left, but a pair of SJLI free throws in the final two minutes sent them into the half with an eight-point advantage.

The Gryphons attempted to make up some ground in the second half, but SJLI had an answer at every turn, maintaining a two-possession lead and even extending the gap to 11 points with 12:24 remaining. Kim stepped into a Chris Dougherty pass a minute later for a triple before finding Matonti for a layup that reduced the lead to six points. Both teams would go quiet offensively for over two minutes before an SJLI score to go up by eight. Dougherty once again found Kim for another score before a Burman free throw brought the Gryphons within five. Burman missed the back end of his free throws, by a rebound by Jefferson gave SLC another possession and Kim finished through contact with a chance at a three-point play to pull the team within two. The junior converted at the line and the double-digit lead was reduced to just two points with just over six to play. The Golden Eagles responded to keep the lead, but Kim immediately answered with another score through contact, converting on the and-one opportunity to bring the Gryphons within one. The junior then turned defense into offense, generating a steal before Kelly connected from long range to give the Gryphons their first lead since the 19-minute mark in the first half. Kim forced another SJLI turnover on the ensuing possession, converting himself on the other end and putting SLC up by four points. The Golden Eagles would take the next four points and tie the game at 51 points apiece, setting up for an exciting final three-and-a-half minutes. A second-chance score by the Gryphons broke the stalemate, as Burman finished through contact and converted from the line to put the team up by three. After another SJLI turnover, Burman struck again, this time with a jumper to make it a two-possession game. The Golden Eagles responded and cut the lead to three, but Burman converted yet again as the senior willed the Gryphons to another two-possession lead. Dougherty and Kim each converted on both of their looks from the free throw line in the final minute as the Gryphons held on for an eventual nine-point victory, moving to 5-1 in conference play.

Up Next

The Gryphons (8-7, Skyline 5-1) will return to action on the road this Tuesday as they travel to Brooklyn for a matchup with the Bears of St. Josephs Brooklyn. The game is slated for a 6:00 p.m. tip-off as the two teams will battle in an interdivisional showdown. The Gryphons will then return to the Campbell Sports Center on Saturday for a noon matchup against Old Westbury.