If there was a cautionary note in Stony Brook's opening two America East wins over Vermont and Binghamton, it was the lack of production from a bench that contributed a grand total of eight points in those games. But the Seawolves looked like a deep, well-rounded team in an 81-68 domination of Albany that included a 25-point boost from the bench Sunday at Pritchard Gym.
With the score tied at 12 midway through the first half, Anthony Jackson and Marcus Rouse entered, and Stony Brook's offense took off like a rocket on a 19-6 run that put the Seawolves in control, 31-18.
Jackson hit three consecutive shots from three-point range during that stretch and Rouse scored six of his eight points. They combined to shoot 7-for-8 as Stony Brook (8-6 overall, 3-0 America East) shot 72 percent from the field while running up a 44-33 halftime lead over the Great Danes (10-7, 2-1).
Jackson shot only 1-for-12 from the field in his previous five games, but he was 4-for-4 in his 11-point game against Albany as Stony Brook built a 23-0 advantage in bench points in the first half.
"Coach [Steve Pikiell] preaches to be a hunter in practice and look to score, and I tried to bring it to the game," Jackson said. "Our second wave did what it was supposed to do."
"They came out in attack mode," Pikiell said of his reserves. "I tell them they don't get as many trips to the plate as they would like, but when they do get up to the plate, I want them swinging. I don't want them holding the bat on their shoulder. They did a good job of giving us a lift."
Holding a big lead has been a challenge in the past, but this time, SBU's starters built on it. The Seawolves put together a 21-10 run to build their biggest lead at 55-37 with 15:57 remaining, and the Great Danes never got closer than nine points the rest of the way as Stony Brook earned its fifth straight victory.
Bryan Dougher hit two three-pointers coming out of intermission on his way to a 19-point effort that included 5-for-9 shooting from beyond the arc. Center Dallis Joyner had his third career double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
"It was a big step for us," Joyner said. "I told the team before the second half, 'Nobody should be more hungry than us.' We had 20 minutes to play hungry basketball, and that's what we did."
Although Albany's Gerardo Suero scored 28 points and got solid help from Logan Aronhalt (18) and Mike Black (14), Joyner was a presence in the middle, blocking Suero on one drive and altering several other shots.
It was a statement game for the Seawolves, who figure to contend for the conference title along with Albany, Maine and Boston University.
"Coach always preaches to beat a team at least once so that, when we see them in the conference tournament, they know we beat you before and we can do it again," Joyner said. "So it was big."
