Stony Brook has now won its last four conference openers and extends its overall winning streak to three games. The Seawolves held Vermont to its season low shooting percentage at 34 (18-for-53). The Seawolves shot 44 percent from the field and dominated in the paint, outscoring the Catamounts there 28-14. SBU also outrebounded UVM, 37-29.
In addition to Rapier, who was SBU's America East Player of the Game, and Coley's efforts, senior Bryan Dougher (Scotch Plains, N.J.) chipped in 14 points and four steals. Junior Tommy Brenton (Columbia, Md.) had an all-around effort with eight points, nine rebounds, four assists and three steals.
Vermont was led by America East Player of the Game Luke Apfield's 18 points and Sandro Carissimo's 16 points.
"We played very good defense tonight and held Vermont to its season-low for shooting," head coach Steve Pikiell said. "We continue to play well at home and we have to keep that home court advantage up. It was a good conference opener for us; Vermont is a good team that's going to win a lot of games."
Stony Brook (6-6) and Vermont (6-9) kept pace with each other throughout the first half. With the score knotted at 8-8 in the first half, Coley hit a fadeaway jump shot to put SBU up 10-8. Senior Pat Bergmann put in a layup with 10:50 to go in the first half to tie the score at 10 before Coley again gave the Seawolves a two point edge with a jump shot.
SBU led for the rest of the first half. Coley grabbed an offensive rebound and nailed another jump shot to extend the lead to 14-10. with 9:24 left in the first half. The Seawolves and Catamounts then exchanged threes as Dougher and Four McGlynn each made shots from behind the arc at 7:04 and 6:36, respectively, to make the score 19-16.
The Catamounts continued to stay within reach. A jumper by Matt Glass made it 26-22. After being fouled in the act of shooting a three pointer, Dougher nailed all three free throws to extend the Seawolves lead to 29-22.
The Seawolves went into the locker room with a 32-25 lead at the half.
Stony Brook scored quickly in the second half. Senior Dallis Joyner (Norfolk, Va.) dunked the ball to give SBU a 34-25 advantage, but the Catamounts went on a 12-2 run, culminated by a three point field goal by Clancy Rugg to put Vermont up 37-36.
Once again, the teams played back-and-forth basketball, but Stony Brook seemed to pull away with 12:19 to go in the game and the score tied at 40. Senior Danny Carter (Windsor, England) nailed a jumper to begin a 14-6 run for the Seawolves. Coley scored on a fastbreak jump shot following a Dougher steal to give SBU a 56-44 lead with 3:38 remaining.
Vermont hung in with the Seawolves to make it interesting. A three-pointer by Carissimo closed the gap to 61-57 with 17 seconds remaining, but Anthony Jackson (Columbus, Ohio) and Coley nailed their free throws at the end to put the Catamounts away for good.
The Seawolves will hit the road for an important conference game against SUNY rival Binghamton Thursday at 7 p.m. Stony Brook is back at home this Sunday against another SUNY rival, Albany, at 2 p.m.
