The Stony Brook men's basketball team hit 11 three-pointers, matching a season-high, and shot 41.5 percent for the game in a 63-56 win over New Hampshire Wednesday night at Lundholm Gymnasium in Durham, N.H.
The Seawolves improve to 10-14 overall and 5-7 in America East, moving into fifth place in the league, half a game behind Albany for fourth place. SBU snapped a seven-game losing streak at Lundholm Gym. The Wildcats fall to 11-14 overall, 5-8 in the conference.
"I'm really proud of our effort tonight," head coach Steve Pikiell said. "We played hard, made shots and defended well. It's a big win for us against a quality opponent."
Bryan Dougher (Scotch Plains, N.J.), Stony Brook's America East Player of the Game, scored a team-high 16 points and hit some big free throws down the stretch. Leonard Hayes (Voorhees, N.J.) added 11 points.
Stony Brook made 14 of its 27 shots in the first half for a 51.2 shooting percentage, its second-highest first-half percentage of the season. The Seawolves jumped out to a 15-9 lead, thanks in large part to three-pointers from Dougher, Marcus Rouse (Upper Marlboro, Md.) and Hayes.
After New Hampshire got within three, 19-16, on Brian Benson's bucket, the Seawolves closed the half with a 16-7 run that included dagger baskets from Anthony Jackson (Columbus, Ohio). He drained a long two-pointer and then answered Tyrone Conley's three-pointer with one of his own to make it 32-23. Danny Carter then connected on a three-pointer in the corner to send the Seawolves into the locker room with a 35-23 lead.
Stony Brook went cold early in the second half, missing eight of its first 10 shots and allowing the Wildcats to climb back into the game. Conley sank a three-pointer at 10:42 to get UNH within seven, 42-35.
But the Seawolves answered with three consecutive triples as Dougher dropped a three off an in-bound pass from Hayes, Jackson followed with a three, and then Dave Coley (Brooklyn, N.Y.) nailed a three after a Conley turnover, putting SBU on top by 16, 51-35.
New Hampshire responded with a 10-0 run and got within six, 51-45, with 6:09 to play, but Dougher hit a huge three at 5:15 to stop UNH's momentum. He then also had a pair of free throws at 4:10 to give the Seawolves a 56-45 advantage.
Late in the game, the Wildcats got within five, but Hayes and Dougher made free throws at the end to seal the victory.
Stony Brook outrebounded UNH 37-31, got to the free throw line more (16-12) and committed only six turnovers. New Hampshire shot 39.6 percent for the game and was only 7-for-25 from three-point range. Conley led the team with 17 points, and Chandler Rhoads added 14.
The Seawolves head home and will prepare for their biggest game of the season as they host Maine Saturday on a nationally televised ESPNU broadcast at Stony Brook Arena commencing at 11 a.m. The game is part of Seawolves Winterfest 2011 with the women also playing Maine at 2 p.m. For tickets, call (631) 632-WOLF or visit the Stony Brook Athletics online ticket office.
