Stony Brook, N.Y. - Freshman Marcus Rouse (Upper Marlboro, Md.) scored a game-high 17 points and sophomore Bryan Dougher's (Scotch Plains, N.J.) three-pointer with 1:08 remaining broke a 58-all tie as the Stony Brook University men's basketball team defeated the Albany Great Danes, 67-61, in America East Conference action on Sunday afternoon at Pritchard Gymnasium. Stony Brook improves to 14-7 with the victory and 6-2 in the America East, which is its best start in conference play since joining the America East in 2001-02.
"I'm really proud of the way our team competed out there today," Stony Brook head coach Steve Pikiell said. "It was a typical hard fought America East game and our guys made the plays they needed to make down the stretch to win the basketball game."
Rouse shot 8-for-10 from the field and scored 11 of his season-high 17 points in the second half. Sophomore Tommy Brenton (Columbia, Md.) added 14 points and eight rebounds while sophomore Dallis Joyner (Norfolk, Va.) recorded his third double-double of the season (10 points, 10 rebounds). It was also the third straight double-digit rebound game for Joyner.
Stony Brook trailed 52-47 with 6:16 remaining following a Mike Johnson lay-up but Rouse answered with a jumper before Brenton hit one of two free throws to bring the Seawolves within two. Brenton then drilled a three a possession later to give the Seawolves a 53-52 lead.
SBU eventually built its lead to four but Albany scored six of the next eight points to tie the game at 58 with 2:08 left. Albany forced misses by Dougher and junior Chris Martin (Springfield Gardens, N.Y.) on the Seawolves ensuing possession. Albany guard Tim Ambrose grabbed the rebound off Martin's miss but Brenton came from behind and tipped the ball away.
Martin collected the loose ball and the Seawolves called timeout with 1:23 left. SBU then worked the ball to Dougher, who drilled a three from the right corner to put the Seawolves on top 61-58. Joyner then intercepted a pass at the top of the key on Albany's next possession and took it the length of the court for a thunderous dunk.The Great Danes cut the Stony Brook lead to 63-61 on a Mike Black three with 19 seconds left but Dougher knocked down four three throws in the final 16 seconds to seal the Seawolves third straight win. The 14-7 start is the Seawolves best start since 1990-91.
The game was close early, with neither team taking more than a two-point lead until Jake Lindfors knocked down a three to give the Great Danes a 15-12 lead with nine minutes to go in the first half. Stony Brook tied the game at 16 on an inside hoop from Joyner but Albany then scored seven of the next nine points to take a 23-18 lead with 4:27 remaining.
But the Seawolves answered with six straight points, taking a 24-23 advantage on a Brenton hoop with 1:26 left. An Ambrose bucket with under a minute remaining gave Albany the lead back but Joyner got free for a lay-up with 34 seconds left to send SBU into the break with a 26-25 lead.
Stony Brook maintained a slim lead through the early portions of the second half before Albany took a two-point lead on a Blake Metcalf lay-up with 14:07 to go. The Seawolves eventually grabbed the lead back, going up by as many as three on two free throws from sophomore Danny Carter (London, England).
But Albany went on a 10-2 run over the next five minutes to take the 52-47 lead with 6:16 to go. The game featured 13 ties and 10 lead changes.
Black scored a team-high 15 for Albany and was named their America East Player of the Game. Rouse was named the America East Player of the Game for the Seawolves, who shot 46.3 percent for the game.
Stony Brook now has six days off before hosting Boston University on Saturday, Jan. 30 at Pritchard Gymnasium. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. for the America East Conference clash which will follow the Stony Brook women's basketball team game against the Hartford Hawks at 4 p.m. For ticket information go to www.goseawolves.org or call 631-632-WOLF.
Stony Brook's Department of Athletics will be hosting a `Celebration of Basketball' at Saturday's doubleheader, during which the Seawolves will welcome back Stony Brook men's and women's basketball alumni in addition to honoring their 1,000 point scorers.
