Release courtesy of Sarah Lawrence College Athletics

BRONXVILLE, N.Y.—Three different Gryphons scored 15 points apiece to lead Sarah Lawrence College men's basketball to a 76-61 victory over Culinary Institute of America in a Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game at Noyes Court at Campbell Sports Center on Saturday.

Sarah Lawrence (7-10, 2-0 HVIAC) broke new ground with its first 2-0 conference start in program history, having played six seasons in the Hudson Valley Men's Athletic Conference from 2007-13.

The Gryphons took an early lead, but after the seven minutes of play, Culinary (5-6, 1-3 HVIAC) kept the game within reach, 16-13. Back-to-back field goals by SLC rookie Stevan Radosavljevic (Lazarevac, Serbia/Grammar School Lazarevac)kickstarted a 13-2 run, leading to the largest lead of the half at 29-15.

The Steels defense allowed the visitors to close the gap, as the Gryphons managed to score only twice—three pointers byWyatt Rocheleau (San Jose, Calif./Christopher) and Josh Niebloom (Livingston, N.J./Golda Och Academy)—in the last nine minutes of the period. By halftime, SLC was in front, 35-26.

The Gryphons came out firing in the second half. After three early points by center Graham Gilleran (San Francisco, Calif./Archbishop Riordan), guard Brendan O'Connell (Andover, Mass./Phillips Academy Andover) added five points on a pair of baskets, giving SLC a 43-26 advantage.

Culinary was able to close the gap to seven points at 51-44, but Sarah Lawrence scored the next six points and held a double-digit edge for the remainder of the game. Consistency from the free throw line helped the Green and White stave off the Steels' final efforts, and Sarah Lawrence picked up the 76-61 victory.

Radosavljevic earned his 11th double-double of the season on 15 points and 13 rebounds. Gilleran got his fourth double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds; the rookie swatted three blocks, improving his team-record total to 40 on the season. Rookie Mat Gerak (Monroe, Conn./Masuk) also racked up a team-high 15 points, accruing seven on perfect shooting from the free-throw line.

Rocheleau and O'Connell each pitched in eight points on the day, while Niebloom and Niko Yuvienco (Queens, N.Y./Christ the King) contributed seven points apiece.

As a team, the Gryphons trailed the Steels in shooting percentage but compensated by getting to the foul line 25 times and converting 76% from the stripe.

Culinary's Ricardo Washington led all players with 18 points, while Avery Britton reached double-digits with 14 points.

SLC steps away from the HVIAC slate to face Lehman College on the road on Wednesday. The Gryphons then play their last five conference games, starting with visits to Pratt Institute on Jan. 31 and to St. Joseph's College Brooklyn on Feb. 4.