Box Score
BRONXVILLE, N.Y.—Supported by a homecoming crowd of more than 300 screaming Gryphon fans, Sarah Lawrence College edged Pratt Institute, 35-32, in a thrilling non-conference game at Noyes Court at Campbell Sports Center on Friday.

The win came down to a tense final minute of play, during which the Green and White supporters helped the Gryphons pull out the narrow win and secure victory in the program's first home game as an NCAA team.

“Listening to the crowd go wild each time we scored—it is an amazing feeling,” noted senior Francis Oppong (Brooklyn, N.Y., Erasmus). “When the crowd is behind you, you feel like you can do anything.”

That energy helped Oppong lead the Gryphons in scoring and rebounding to notch his second-straight double-double.

“Playing in front of a Sarah Lawrence crowd is a great experience,” recalled fellow senior Daniel Bark (Malibu, Calif., Malibu). “When supporters come in, it energizes everyone on our team. Words cannot explain what this experience feels like. It's very special.”

With the Gryphons lacking their leading scorer, Greg Smith (Tampa, Fla., Gaither), who sat due to injury, Pratt was able to take an early 5-1 lead. Sarah Lawrence earned its first lead just past the midway point of the period and opened up a 23-17 advantage by the intermission.

After Sarah Lawrence took its largest lead at 25-17, the Cannoneers went on an 11-0 run, helped by free-throw shooting of junior James Peterson (New Rochelle, N.Y., New Rochelle), who scored five from the charity stripe during the streak.

Trailing, 30-27, Sarah Lawrence regained the lead on three straight layup baskets by Oppong, making it a 33-30 game with less than two minutes to play.

Though Peterson sank two more foul shots to make it a one-point margin, Sarah Lawrence senior John Collector (Santa Barbara, Calif., Dos Pueblos) converted a clutch free throw with four seconds to go, and Pratt's desperation three-pointer missed the mark to seal Sarah Lawrence the 35-32 win.

Pratt's Peterson led all players with 16 points, scoring 10-of-14 from the foul line. He also added 13 rebounds to notch a double-double on the day.

Oppong finished the game with a team-highs of 14 points and 13 rebounds, while Collector added 11 points. Rookies Campbell Jackson (Washington, D.C., The Field School) and Rob Serra (Somers, N.Y., Somers) helped the defense with seven rebounds apiece, season highs for both players.

Sarah Lawrence (2-3) and Pratt (2-2) will meet again later in the season for their Hudson Valley Men's Athletic Conference (HVMAC) game on February 5.

Sarah Lawrence opens its HVMAC slate on Sunday, when the Gryphons host Berkeley College (N.Y.) for a 3 p.m. game at Noyse Court. Sarah Lawrence then faces Webb Institute for a rematch at home on Monday at 7 p.m.