BRONXVILLE, N.Y. - The Sarah Lawrence men's basketball team used a well-balanced offensive attack, led by all starters in double figures, to defend home court on Saturday against the visiting Privateers of Maritime College. The Gryphons held the visitors to 19 points in the first half of play before holding on in the second half for a 12-point victory.
Notable Performers
- Gabe Downes scoerd 12 points while pulling down six rebounds
- Chris Dougherty pulled down a game-high 16 rebounds while adding 10 points and three blocks
- Braden Burman added 12 points, seven rebounds and four assists for the Gryphons
How it Happened
The Privateers started the game with a Zion Williams triple, who led all players with 26 points on the afternoon.
Andrew Kim got the Gryphons going early offensively, scoring twice alongside a triple by Downes that put SLC up 7-3. Downes scored again but the visitors tied the game up at nine points apiece. After a steal by Dougherty, the big man would be rewarded on the other end with an open look from deep, converting and putting the Gryphons ahead once again. A variety of Gryphons got involved offensively, with
Thomas Matonti, Kim,
John Kairouz and
Noah Elovitz-Fields converting from the field. Matonti hit again from deep, this time taking a pass from Burman and putting the hosts up by double-digits.
Aiden Morel added five points in the final five minutes and change of the half before a three-point play by
Eamon Kelly sent SLC into the intermission with a 16-point advantage.
The second half saw an early surge by the visitors, with a 13-1 run that pulled Maritime within four points. A second-chance score by Dougherty stopped the streak, but an immediate response from deep kept momentum on the side of the visitors. Burman stepped up and rattled off the next five points for the Gryphons, while Matonti connected again from deep and Kim converted at three-point play to put SLC up by 13. Kim then swiped a Maritime pass, leading to a score by Downes on the other end to put the hosts up by 15 and regain control of the game. The Privateers answered, but Downes once again finished at the rim and kept the Gryphons ahead. The visitors would reduce the lead to seven points, but that would be as close as they would get as Kairouz, Kim, Kelly and Burman all answered Maritime scores. Downes continued impacting the game, finding Morel for his second triple of the day before generating a turnover that led to a Burman transition score. The first year scored on a second-chance effort with under four to play, absorbing contact before going to the line and finishing the three-point play. The Privateers reduced the lead to nine with two minutes to play, but a dagger of a three-pointer by Dougherty with 1:29 remaining put the Gryphons in line for a ninth Skyline victory. Kelly added a triple in the final minute of play, helping the hosts to add another win to an already-impressive season resume.
Up Next
The Gryphons (12-7, Skyline 9-1) will return to action on Wednesday, February 4th as the team hits the road for a matchup with Farmingdale State, the leaders of the Skyline's Black Division. The Gryphons and Rams will battle at Nold Hall with a 7:00 p.m. start on Wednesday.
