NEWBURGH, N.Y. - The Sarah Lawrence men's basketball team wrapped up the 2025-26 regular season with a road victory against the Knights of Mount Saint Mary on Saturday afternoon. The Gryphons will now turn their attention to next week's Skyline Conference Tournament, with a first-round contest set to be played at the Campbell Sports Center for the second consecutive season.
Notable Performers
- Braden Burman poured in 17 points on three long-range connections for SLC
- Eamon Kelly added 17 points in his last regular season contest for the Gryphons
- Gabe Downes scored eight points while pulling down double-digit rebounds
How it Happened
The Gryphons got going from distance early, with a Burman triple to start the day's scoring before Kelly joined the effort to put the team up 6-3 moments later. A second-chance score by
Chris Dougherty put the visitors up 8-3, but the Knights marched back immediately, drawing within one just 40 seconds later. The Gryphons remained ahead with a slight advantage, before another Burman triple extended the lead to eight with under 12 to play in the half. The hosts did not lay down, reducing the lead to three points and keeping within striking distance of the playoff-bound Gryphons. After reducing the SLC lead to two points,
Thomas Matonti connected from distance, but it would only provide temporary relief as the Knights closed the gap completely and tied the game with 3:46 in the half. Burman put the visitors back in the lead, put the teams would tie twice more in the waning minutes of the half, with a Kelly triple in the final seconds breaking the stalemate and putting SLC ahead by three at the intermission.
Downes, Dougherty and Kelly all contributed early scores in the second half, but the hosts continued to battle. Continued long-range connections helped the Knights remain on the hip of the Gryphons until the 11-minute mark, when a second-chance MSMC score put the Knights ahead by one. Kelly answered with one of his five triples to put the Gryphons back on top, but the two teams would remain knotted up, tied at 46, 48 and 51 points apiece.
Aiden Morel stepped into a pass from Kelly and a Dougherty block turned into a Matonti triple that catapulted the Gryphons back into the lead, taking a 57-51 advantage. The Knights answered with a long-range connection of their own, but Morel hit again a minute later to keep the Gryphons ahead by two possessions. Burman hit from distance again to keep the team ahead, while the senior also connected on a pair of late free throws to ensure the SLC victory.
Up Next
The Gryphons (15-10, Skyline 12-4) will return to action next week as they host Manhattanville University for a first-round matchup at the Campbell Sports Center. The contest is slated for 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 25th after a conference-wide schedule adjustment due to the impending winter weather.
