BRONXVILLE, N.Y. – The Sarah Lawrence College men's basketball team remained undefeated on Wednesday, November 11, holding off a late Coast Guard rally to secure an 83-80 victory at Campbell Sports Center. The Gryphons improved to 3-0 on the season with their first win over the Bears in program history.
Aiden Morel and Gabe Downes paced the Gryphons with 21 points apiece. Morel shot 7-of-13 from the field, including five three-pointers, while adding six rebounds and two steals. Downes also finished with six rebounds, dished out three assists, and shot 8-of-14 from the floor in his career-high performance. Andrew Kim contributed 13 points, nine rebounds, and a game-high 10 assists for his first double-double of the season. Thomas Matonti also reached double figures with 13 points, knocking down three three-pointers.
Sarah Lawrence came out strong in the opening half, overcoming an early Coast Guard lead to establish control. After the Bears took an 11-6 advantage, the Gryphons responded with a scoring run sparked by Kim, who scored inside before Downes connected from beyond the arc to bring Sarah Lawrence within one. Matonti and Morel followed with consecutive three-pointers, helping the Gryphons take a 22-16 lead.
The Gryphons continued to build momentum, extending their advantage to 10 points at 30-20 following a pair of free throws from Morel. Coast Guard worked its way back into the contest, eventually tying the score at 37-37 with under two minutes remaining in the half. Morel answered with another three-pointer, and Downes added a basket in the paint to help Sarah Lawrence take a 43-37 lead into halftime.
The Bears opened the second half with a push, cutting the deficit to four before Morel and Matonti helped the Gryphons maintain their advantage. Matonti connected on back-to-back baskets, including a three-pointer, while Kim continued to facilitate the offense. However, Coast Guard gradually chipped away at the lead, eventually tying the game at 57-57 with 11:11 remaining.
Downes responded with a basket in the paint to put Sarah Lawrence back in front. After a steal by Matonti, Downes converted a fast-break opportunity to extend the lead to four. Kim and Matonti added points at the free-throw line, while Kim's basket inside pushed the Gryphons ahead 68-62 with just over eight minutes remaining.
Coast Guard continued to threaten, cutting the deficit to four at 68-64, but the Gryphons answered with a crucial stretch down the closing minutes. Thomas Davenport knocked down two free throws, Kim added a basket inside, and Downes followed with another jumper to give Sarah Lawrence a 74-67 advantage with 3:58 remaining.
Kim continued to deliver in the closing minutes, scoring another basket in the paint before Morel connected from beyond the arc to restore a nine-point lead at 79-70. Coast Guard made one final push, pulling within four after consecutive three-pointers, but Davenport converted a layup with just over a minute remaining to keep the Gryphons in front. Downes added another basket inside, and Sarah Lawrence held on through the final seconds to secure the 83-80 victory.
The Gryphons finished the night shooting 42.3 percent from the field and outrebounded Coast Guard, 39-37. Sarah Lawrence also held a significant advantage in points off turnovers (20-4), second-chance points (18-2), and points in the paint (36-24).
