Dougher, Klupenger named America East Fans' Choice Players of the Year

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Stony Brook men's basketball senior guard Bryan Dougher has been named the 2012 America East Men's Basketball Fans' Choice Player of the Year, the conference office announced on Tuesday. Junior guard Dani Klupenger of the Seawolves women's basketball team completed the sweep for SBU as she earned the 2012 America East Fans' Choice Player of the Year on the women's side.Dougher received 41 percent of nearly 700 votes, while Klupenger got 27 percent of the women's tallies. Eighteen nominees (two from each school) were named to each ballot on Feb. 21. Voting, which ran through America East's Facebook page for the first time, went through Feb. 28.
A two-time all-conference selection, Dougher led the Seawolves to their second America East regular season title in three years as he led the conference with 79 threes while ranking 10th in scoring at 13.4 points per game.
Klupenger led the Seawolves with 41 threes and scored a career-high 18 points in the Seawolves victory at Vermont in the America East opener.
The women's basketball team takes on Maine in the first round of the America East Championship Thursday night at 6 p.m., and the men's basketball team plays in the quarterfinals against either UMBC or Binghamton Saturday at noon.

Stony Brook Men's hoops beats Maine to win regular season championship

The Seawolves finish the regular season a program-record 14-2 in America East and will be No. 1 seed in next week's tournament.

Final Stats
• Pikiell on Sirius XM Sports
• Vote Dougher or Brenton for Fans' Choice Player of the Year
• 2012 America East Championship Tournament Central | Bracket (PDF)
Greg Logan Newsday article
Steve Pikiell thanks his seniors - Newsday.com Hoops Scoops
Stony Brook, N.Y. - For the second time in three years, the Stony Brook men's basketball team grinded out the 16-game America East regular season schedule and came out on top of the other eight teams. The Seawolves defeated Maine, 55-48, to clinch the America East regular season title with a 14-2 record. The Seawolves will be the No. 1 seed in next week's America East Championship.

The win is Stony Brook's 11th win in its last 12 games and 17th victory in its last 19 games. The 14-2 America East record is a program best, topping the 2009-10 regular season champion team's 13-3 mark, and SBU's 20-8 overall record is the second time the team has won 20 regular season games in its Div. I history. Stony Brook was in first place every day of the regular season, making it the league's first wire-to-wire champion since 2006-07 (Vermont).

Stony Brook also won its 14th consecutive home game and finished the regular season undefeated at Pritchard Gymnasium. The Seawolves are one of 13 teams in NCAA Div. I to be undefeated at home this season.

"I want to thank the fans, the band, the staff, and everyone involved for their support of our team this season," head coach Steve Pikiell said. "To win 20 games in the regular season and win 14 games in a tough league is an accomplishment. I'm proud of my team, and we'll enjoy this today and then start preparing for the conference tournament on Monday."

Senior Dallis Joyner (Norfolk, Va.) scored a game-high 12 points to lead the Seawolves and earn America East Player of the Game honors. SBU shot only 37 percent from the game, but won thanks to outstanding defense that limited the Black Bears to 32 percent shooting and just 19 percent from three-point range. The Seawolves, who are sixth in the nation in rebounding margin, outrebounded Maine 40-34 and turned 12 offensive rebounds into 14 second chance points.

Maine was led by Alasdair Fraser who had 12 points and 10 rebounds to earn America East Player of the Game honors.

The Seawolves got into a groove in the early going of the game as senior Bryan Dougher (Scotch Plains, N.J.) scored eight points in the first 4:21. His three-pointer at 15:39 gave SBU an early 15-4 advantage.

Stony Brook stretched that lead to as much as 15 points after junior Tommy Brenton (Columbia, Md.) ripped a rebound away from a Maine player and hit a put-back layup off a missed three-pointer to give the Seawolves at 26-11 lead with 8:42 left in the first half.

The Black Bears hung around and got back into the game on the strength of six Fraser points near the end of the half. His layup underneath the basket off a pass from Justin Edwards made it 30-24 going into halftime.

Maine then opened the second half on an 11-5 run and got within one point after Gerald McLemore made three free throws after drawing a foul on a three-point shot. The SBU lead was at 36-35 and then 38-37 with 12:40 to go.

Maine had two chances to take its first lead of the game, but the team missed three-point attempts on back-to-back possessions. Stony Brook got its lead back up to seven points, 46-39, after a great sequence by Joyner. He had a put-back layup to make it a five-point game and then grabbed a big defensive rebound in traffic and drew a loose-ball foul, sending him to the free throw line where he made both shots.

Joyner then had another huge play with a spin-move past Fraser in the post and an up-and-under layup to make it 51-45 with 3:43 to go.

Maine got within three on a Kilian Cato three-pointer at 1:05, but the Seawolves made enough free throws to ice the game.

Prior to the game, the Seawolves honored their four seniors, Dougher, Joyner, Danny Carter and Al Rapier.

Stony Brook will now enter the America East Championship as the No. 1 seed, three wins away from a conference title and NCAA Tournament bid. The quest for the title begins Saturday, March 3 against either No. 8 UMBC or No. 9 Binghamton in the tournament quarterfinals in West Hartford, Conn., at 12 p.m. For tickets, visit AmericaEast.com.

SBU tops Hartford, takes over first place

Bryan Dougher scored 17 points and Tommy Brenton had 11 points, 11 rebounds and three assists as Stony Brook topped Hartford, 74-50, in an America East basketball matchup Tuesday night at Chase Arena in Hartford. With the victory and rival Vermont's stunning loss to previously winless Binghamton Tuesday night, the Seawolves gained sole possession of first place in the conference with one game remaining.
Dallis Joyner had 13 points and six rebounds and Eric McAlister nine points for Stony Brook (19-8, 13-2), which shot 26-for-42 (61.9 percent) from the field, including 8-for-16 from three-point range. The Seawolves shot 79 percent in the second half, hitting 15 of 19 shots.
The defense held Hartford to 31-percent shooting. The Seawolves have won their last eight meetings against the Hawks.
Genesis Maciel scored 12 points and Mark Nwakamma had 10 points for Hartford (8-20, 7-9).
Stony Brook led 31-28 at halftime, but took control in the second half. Brenton's free throw gave the Seawolves a 52-37 lead with 10:51 remaining and they pulled away.
The Seawolves can clinch the conference title Sunday when they host Maine at noon.
Binghamton stuns Vermont. Robert Mansell scored 18 points and Ben Dickinson had 16 points and 11 rebounds to lead host Binghamton in a 57-53 upset of Vermont (19-11, 12-3)
The win snapped a 27-game losing streak for Binghamton (1-26, 1-13), which was the only winless team in Division I.
Said Bearcats coach Maark Macon, "To see the happiness on their faces was uplifting."
Binghamton students stormed the floor after a game in which the Bearcats took the lead at 4-2 and never relinquished it, ending the Catamounts' 10-game winning streak.

STONY BROOK WINS AT HARTFORD, CLINCHES TIE FOR AMERICA EAST REGULAR SEASON TITLE

Blistering second-half shooting lifts men's hoops to victory - Stony Brook Official Athletic Site

Petersen gets nine points as SBU wins

www.Newsday.com

Claire Petersen's abilities were unmatched in Division II, where the All-American attack helped Adelphi win two of its three consecutive national titles. But how would those skills translate at Division I Stony Brook? The answer came quickly. Petersen stepped up and stood out Sunday, setting a team record for assists in a game with seven and tying for most points with nine as Stony Brook (3-0) defeated visiting Central Connecticut, 18-5.
"I was not aware of that," Petersen said of her achievement. "This is the first game that I'm playing in, so it's really exciting to be out here with the whole team, as a full team."
Petersen, a junior transfer, was held out of the first two games for an undisclosed infraction. "Coach had a certain level of rules and expectations I didn't follow," Petersen said of Joe Spallina, who also coached her at Adelphi. "But it's water under the bridge at this point and we're just moving on from here."
Spallina was not at all surprised at Petersen's performance, saying, "I'm sure it's a record she will wind up breaking later on. She's a dynamic player on any level. Claire's the kind of player who is going to make the people around her better. And with the kind of talent we have around here, she's in a position where she's bringing her game to a different level."
Petersen's point total tied Kaitlin Leggio (2008) and Carlee Buck, who did it three times in the 2005 season. Peterson had 125 assists last season at Adelphi.
Petersen assisted on Janine Hillier's goal 13 seconds into the game and had four assists in the first half as the Seawolves took a 10-1 lead over the Blue Devils (0-1). Adelphi transfer Demmianne Cook had four goals and freshman Amber Kupres had three.
"We're just so excited to have her back," Hillier said of Petersen. "She helps our offense come together. It's awesome having someone behind the crease to create plays like that and create opportunities for other teammates."

Stony Brook Men's hoops comes back to beat Northeastern, 76-69

Final Stats
Boston - Sophomore Dave Coley (Brooklyn, N.Y.) scored a game-high 21 points, and the Stony Brook men's basketball team overcame a nine-point, second-half deficit to knock off the Northeastern Huskies 76-69 Saturday afternoon at Matthews Arena.

The win is Stony Brook's 15th win over its last 17 games and helps improve the team overall record to 18-8. It is also Stony Brook sixth road win in its last eight tries.

Coley's 21 points matched a career high, originally set at Boston University earlier this season. Senior Dallis Joyner (Norfolk, Va.) had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Junior Tommy Brenton (Columbia, Md.) added 13 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and two steals in a very well-rounded effort.

Stony Brook outrebounded Northeastern 38-26, including 16 offensive boards that led to 26 second chance points. The Seawolves shot 47.5 percent for the game.

Northeastern was led by Joel Smith's 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting and 6-of-10 from the three-point line. NU shot 51 percent for the game and was 10-for-17 from behind the arc.

"I thought we played really well today, had good energy and made big plays," head coach Steve Pikiell said. "At the end, we made some defensive stops, grabbed offensive rebounds and made the most of our opportunities against a very good team. Now we look forward to getting back to league play Tuesday at Hartford."

After a 16-6 Northeastern run mid-way through the second half, the Seawolves were trailing 55-46 with 8:02 remaining in the game. The Seawolves got it down to six after a junior Leonard Hayes (Voorhees, N.J.) three-pointer. NU responded by getting its lead back to nine on a three-point play by Quincy Ford, making it 62-53 with 5:53 to go.

From there, it was all Seawolves as they began their comeback. Brenton was a big part of it with a put-back dunk at 4:46 to make it a five-point game, 62-57. NU's Jonathan Lee responded with a layup, but Brenton came back with a nifty dish to senior Al Rapier (Chicago, Ill.) for a layup at 4:02, making it 64-59.

Brenton then dished to Coley, who drilled a three-pointer to cut the deficit to two, 64-62. Brenton then stripped NU's Kauri Black of the ball and went in for an uncontested fastbreak dunk to tie the game at 64-64 and force a Huskies timeout.

Brenton forced another turnover when he got his hand in the way of a pass in the post. Coley ended up with the ball and went in for a layup, but was fouled by Lee, and the foul was ruled flagrant. Coley made one of two from the line, and with the ball back, Brenton drew a blocking foul and went to the line.

Brenton made the first, and the second missed, but Joyner was there for the offensive rebound. Joyner then found Rapier for an easy layup and the foul. He missed the free throw, but the ball went out of bounds, last touched by the Huskies. Joyner made a layup at 1:39 to put the Seawolves on top 70-64.

Northeastern got it to within three on another Smith three-pointer with 40 seconds to go, but Coley made four free throws from there on out, and the Huskies missed their final three shots.

The second half flurry had come after a competitive first half that saw the Huskies make seven of their first eight three-point attempts to build a seven-point lead, 35-28.

But the Seawolves made a furious comeback late in the half. Coley hit a layup and drew a foul with 32 seconds left to cut NU's lead to five. He missed the free throw, but an offensive rebound by Brenton put the ball back into SBU's hands. Holding for final shot, Hayes knocked down a three-pointer with nine seconds left to make it a two-point game. Then Coley stole the in-bound pass and immediately put up an off-balance jumper from just inside the three-point line that banked in and tied the game at 35-35 going into the break.

Stony Brook finished the game with 16 assists to just 10 turnovers and scored 19 points off of 11 NU turnovers. SBU was 13-for-19 from the free throw line, and NU was 7-for-12.

Stony Brook returns to America East play Tuesday at Hartford at 7 p.m. The Seawolves are two wins away from clinching their second America East regular season championship in three seasons.

Stony Brook Football adds Leston Simpson to 2012 roster

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Stony Brook head football coach Chuck Priore has announced that Leston Simpson has accepted a grant-in-aid offer to play football for the Seawolves. A native of Springfield Gardens, N.Y., Simpson will have two years of eligibility."Leston will help us fill some spots on the defensive line," Priore said. "We wanted to bring in some guys who have experience that can play right away, which Leston possesses."
A transfer from the University of Minnesota, Leston played in only two games in 2011, but appeared in all 12 games in 2010.
A 6-3, 255-pound defensive lineman, Simpson played one season at Lackawanna College.
Simpson starred at Campus Magnet High School, recording 57 tackles and six sacks as a senior en route to second team All-City honors.

Hall of Famer Gary Carter dies at 57

NEW YORK -- Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter died Thursday following a lengthy battle with brain cancer. He was 57.Best known for his role on the 1986 World Series champion Mets and for his 10-year run with the Expos that preceded it, Carter had been battling cancer since doctors discovered inoperable tumors on his brain in May 2011, diagnosing him with grade 4 glioblastoma. His condition took a turn for the worse when an MRI exam revealed new tumors in January.
Carter passed at 4:10 p.m. ET, according to an entry on his family's online journal.

"He is in heaven and has reunited with his mom and dad," Carter's daughter, Kimmy Bloemers, wrote on the journal. "I believe with all my heart that Dad had a STANDING OVATION as he walked through the gates of heaven to be with Jesus."
Carter hit 324 home runs over a 19-year run with the Expos, Mets, Giants and Dodgers, finishing his career back where he started, in Montreal in 1992. He entered the Hall of Fame in 2003 with an Expos cap, on a plaque referring to his "signature smile" and clutch hitting.

"Driven by a remarkable enthusiasm for the game, Gary Carter became one of the elite catchers of all-time," said Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. "'The Kid' was an 11-time All-Star and a durable, consistent slugger for the Montreal Expos and the New York Mets, and he ranks among the most beloved players in the history of both of those franchises. Like all baseball fans, I will always remember his leadership for the '86 Mets and his pivotal role in one of the greatest World Series ever played.

"On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to Gary's wife, Sandy; their daughters, Christy and Kimmie; their son, D.J.; their grandchildren; his friends and his many fans."
Carter hit 24 homers and knocked in 105 runs for the 1986 Mets, earning one of his 11 career All-Star selections and finishing third in National League Most Valuable Player Award voting. Carter's leap into the arms of reliever Jesse Orosco after the final out of Game 7 of the World Series remains one of the most indelible images in Mets history.
A three-time Gold Glove winner and two-time All-Star Game MVP, Carter was inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame and Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001. His uniform No. 8 was retired by the Expos in '03. He caught the fourth-most games (2,056) in Major League history and, when not catching, played as an outfielder and first baseman.
Mets chairman and CEO Fred Wilpon, president Saul Katz and COO Jeff Wilpon released the following statement upon Carter's passing:
"On behalf of everyone at the Mets, we extend our deepest and heartfelt condolences to Gary's family. ... His nickname, 'The Kid,' captured how Gary approached life. He did everything with enthusiasm and with gusto, on and off the field. His smile was infectious. He guided our young pitching staff to the World Series title in 1986 and he devoted an equal amount of time and energy raising awareness for a multitude of charities and community causes. He was a Hall of Famer in everything he did."
Carter's manager in New York, Davey Johnson, recalled the written reports his catcher kept on all National League hitters, dubbing him "a one-man scouting system." The general manager who acquired him, Frank Cashen, called Carter "the perfect guy for so many reasons."
"He was the idea catcher for our young pitching staff," Johnson said.
Carter, who spent time managing two of New York's Class A Minor League affiliates last decade and was named Gulf Coast League Manger of the Year in 2005, most recently served as the head baseball coach at Palm Beach Atlantic University in Florida. Prior to his illness, Carter had been outspoken in his desire to one day manage the Mets.
"The baseball community has lost a Hall of Fame player and a Hall of Fame person," former teammate and current Mets third-base coach Tim Teufel said in a statement. "He was a good man and will be missed terribly."
"What he added to the team was character," another teammate, Darryl Strawberry, said. "His approach to the game was contagious. It spread to the rest of us. He helped each of us understand what it took to win."
Carter made his last public appearance at Palm Beach Atlantic's home opener on Feb. 2, 18 days after making a brief speech at his own charity golf tournament dinner on Jan. 15.
"My prayers go out to his family," former teammate Mookie Wilson said in a telephone interview Thursday evening. "Even though we knew he was dealing with the cancer ... it's a little shock to me right now."
The New York chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America honored Carter in January with its Milton Richman/Dan Castellano "You Gotta Have Heart" award.
"When you think of the great baseball field generals, you think Gary Carter," National Baseball Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson said in a statement. "He ran the game from behind the plate with strong leadership and passion. The Kid's contribution to our National Pastime is big, but his heart was even bigger. We'll always remember his caring way, ever-present smile and strong devotion to family, community and the Baseball Hall of Fame."
The Hall of Fame plans to announce funeral arrangements when they become available.

Stony Brook Baseball tabbed preseason America East favorite

Cambridge, Mass. - The Stony Brook University baseball team has been picked as the favorite to take home the 2012 America East title in the preseason coaches poll released by the conference office on Wednesday. The Seawolves return 20 letterwinners from last year's squad that won a school record 42 games and the program's first America East regular season title.The Seawolves received 24 points including four of the five available first-place votes as coaches could not vote for their own team. Maine finished a close second with 22 points and received the other two first place votes.
Maine was followed by Albany and Binghamton. Hartford and UMBC rounded out the poll.
SBU has also been named the preseason favorite to win the America East in Baseball America and is ranked 17th in College Baseball Daily's preseason Mid-Major Top 25.
Among Stony Brook's 20 returning letterwinners are juniors Travis Jankowski (Lancaster, Pa.) and William Carmona (Hempstead, N.Y.), who have each been named to multiple preseason All-American teams.
Also returning are All-America East selections, seniors Pat Cantwell (West Islip, N.Y.) and Tyler Johnson (Chatsworth Calif.) as well as 2011 America East Rookie of the Year Brandon McNitt (Chino Hills, Calif.).
SBU opens the 2012 season against Alabama State and Nicholls State at the Colonel Round Robin Tournament on Feb. 24 and will host 20 games at Joe Nathan Field.

Baseball continues to be recognized by national media

Mid-Major Poll

Stony Brook, N.Y. -
The Stony Brook University baseball team continues to receive recognition from national publications as it prepares for the start of the 2012 season. The Seawolves return 20 letterwinners from last year's squad that won a school record 42 games and the program's first America East regular season title.
The latest publication to recognize the Seawolves was Baseball America, which featured junior centerfielder Travis Jankowski in its preview edition and named him a preseason first team All-American. Baseball America picked the Seawolves to win the America East and named junior William Carmona its preseason America East Player of the Year.
Baseball America also named Jankowski, the 2011 MVP of the Cape Cod summer league, the conference's top prospect for the 2012 MLB Draft. Joining Jankowski on that list was senior Pat Cantwell (third), Carmona (eighth) and junior Maxx Tissenbaum (10th). They also named freshmen Cole Peragine and Kevin Krause as the America East's top two newcomers.
The recognition from Baseball America is just the latest in a preseason full of honors for the Seawolves. Tissenbaum and Carmona were named Louisville Slugger preseason All-Americans by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper last month and Jankowski was named a preseason All-American by both the NCBWA and Perfect Game USA.
In addition, College Baseball Daily ranked the Seawolves 17th in its preseason Mid-Major Top 25. The poll covers all programs outside of the ACC, Big 12, Big West, CUSA, Pac 10 and SEC.

SBU opens the 2012 season against Alabama State and Nicholls State at the Colonel Round Robin Tournament on Feb. 24 and will host 20 games at Joe Nathan Field.

Sources: Boston University to Announce Addition of DI Men's Lacrosse

Multiple sources have told Inside Lacrosse that Boston University will announce the addition of NCAA Division I men's lacrosse as soon as tomorrow. Efforts to contact AD Mike Lynch weren't immediately returned, and BU takes the ice tonight against Boston College in the 60th annual Beanpot.

While Lynch did not respond, he Tweeted this afternoon, "Excitement on Causeway St tonight spurs huge news for BU sports tomorrow. Check goterriers.com at wakeup!"
IL spoke to Lynch in November about the prospective addition of men's lacrosse, at which time Lynch said "It's absolutely on the table as a possibility. I would say that in the context of looking to broaden the stamp of our program any way we can; we see athletics as a way to do that and reach a national audience. There are a number of sports we're currently considering, and men's lacrosse is part of that conversation.”
At the time, Lynch said an announcement was "not imminent."
IL reached out to an official in the BU athletics department in late January for an update, but was told on Jan. 27 that there was no development to report.
Inside Lacrosse also conducted a reader poll last weekend on the heels of Furman's DI announcement asking which would be the next DI university would be next to add men's lacrosse. BU was the heavy winner with 40% of the vote, while USC was second with 31%.
BU plays in the America East and would likely join Albany, Binghamton, Hartford, Stony Brook, UMBC and Vermont as the league's seventh men's lacrosse team. BU's women's team has won the AE nine times, most recently in 2010, and advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals in 2005.
BU's athletic department currently boasts 21 sports — including women's lacrosse, but not including football. Since 2004, the Terriers have won 42 conference championships and the 2009 NCAA men's hockey title.
The Terriers will likely call Nickerson Field home. Major League Lacrosse's Boston Cannons played there in the 2000s, and the stadium was home of the 2004-2005 MLL playoffs and the 2006 MLL All-Star Game.
Update: 6 p.m.
A BU official contacted Inside Lacrosse declining comment, but additional sources have provided more details regarding tomorrow's possible announcement. In addition to announcing men's lacrosse, BU also plans to unveil a facilities plan that'll bring an additional field to campus, a possibility Lynch mentioned in his November conversation with IL.
On the lacrosse side, the Terriers are reportedly targeting a 2014 start date after making a coaching hire this summer, and will look to fund the program with the full 12.6 scholarships.

Stony Brook men's hoops winning streak snapped at Vermont

Final Stats
Burlington, Vt. - Vermont shot 48 percent from the field and connected on nine three-pointers, as the Stony Brook men's basketball team saw its eight-game winning streak snapped in a 68-49 loss to the Catamounts Sunday at a sold-out Patrick Gymnasium.

The Seawolves, who have still won 14 of their last 16 games, fall to 17-8 overall and 12-2 in America East. Vermont improves to 17-10 overall and 11-2 in America East. Although Stony Brook has a half-game lead over Vermont in the conference standings, the Catamounts now control their own destiny for the No. 1 seed in the America East Championship via a tiebreaker.

The Seawolves could not find a shooting rhythm in front of the sell-out crowd. As a team, SBU was 17-for-51 (33.3%) from the field, 0-for-15 from the three-point line and 15-for-26 (57.7%) from the foul line. Before today, Stony Brook had made at least one three-pointer in 174 consecutive games.

Senior Dallis Joyner (Norfolk, Va.) led the Seawolves with 13 points to earn his team's America East Player of the Game honors. Junior Tommy Brenton (Columbia, Md.) had nine points and nine rebounds. Senior Al Rapier (Chicago, Ill.) also had nine rebounds.

Vermont was led by its America East Player of the Game, Four McGlynn, who scored 24 points on 7-of-12 shooting, including four made three-pointers.

"Give credit to Vermont, they're a good basketball team and they played well," head coach Steve Pikiell said. "They were the better team today."

Stony Brook fell behind early thanks to hot Vermont shooting as the Catamounts made seven of their first eight shots. Back-to-back three-pointers from Luke Apfeld and Brendan Bald to open the game gave the Catamounts a 6-0 lead. UVM expanded it to nine points after Matt Glass' three at 13:01 to make it 15-6.

Vermont then made it a 12-point lead after Brian Voelkel stripped Brenton of the ball and McGlynn took it in for a layup to make it 21-9 with 8:44 left.

Stony Brook did not back down and started playing defense and taking advantage of size in the paint. The Seawolves closed the half on a 13-2 run, limiting UVM to just one field goal in the final 8:44.

Joyner had four offensive rebounds and they all led to layups underneath. His bucket on a put-back at 8:14 made it 21-11. He had another one at 6:23 off a senior Bryan Dougher (Scotch Plains, N.J.) miss. He then ended the half with another offensive board and layup at 0:41 to make it a one-point game at halftime, 23-22, in favor of Vermont.

In the second half, the Seawolves just couldn't find the handle on offense while Vermont used the three-point goal to pull away. Glass hit a three-pointer to make it a four-point game, and McGlynn knocked down a three-pointer to make it a seven-point lead, 33-26.

Brenton cut it to five, 35-30, with a layup, and then the Catamounts went on a 16-2 run that included two more McGlynn three-pointers and culminated with Bald's triple at 7:03, making it 51-32 in favor of Vermont.

Stony Brook got no closer than 14 points the rest of the game as UVM shot 52 percent in the second half and made 15 of 18 free throw attempts after not getting to the line once in the first half.

Stony Brook must now take a break from America East competition. The Seawolves will play at Northeastern Saturday at 1 p.m., in a game scheduled through Sears ESPN BracketBusters.

STONY BROOK at Vermont...11:45 am. on WUSB

WUSB RADIO NEWS: Whitney Houston dead at 48

Los Angeles (CNN) -- Legendary pop singer Whitney Houston was found dead at a Beverly Hills, California, hotel at age 48, officials said Saturday night.The entertainer, whose incredible talent was discovered at an early age, was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. (6:55 p.m. ET) at the Beverly Hilton despite resuscitation efforts, a police spokesman said.
Beverly Hills Police Lt. Mark Rosen said there were "no obvious signs of criminal intent" and that the cause of her death is being investigated.
Houston's bodyguard found her body, said Courtney Barnes, publicist for hip-hop artist Ray J, who was dating the pop diva.
According to her official website, Houston sold more than 170 million albums, singles and videos. But she also struggled with addiction problems over the years.
Houston died on the eve of the 54th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.
Houston was set to appear in this year's "Sparkle," a remake of the 1976 hit, which was loosely based on the story of The Supremes. It was her first movie role since 1996's "The Preacher's Wife."
News of her death elicited a flood of reaction on social media, from fans and fellow celebrities alike.

Music producer Russell Simmons wrote he was "deeply saddened by the death of Whitney Houston," while singer Gloria Estefan said she was "shocked we've lost the immensely talented" entertainer.

Another entertainment legend, Quincy Jones, said he was "absolutely heartbroken" by the news. "She was a true original and a talent beyond compare," he said.
Houston's body of work includes seven straight Billboard No. 1 hits in the 1980s, including "Saving All My Love for You," "How Will I Know," "Greatest Love of All," "Where Do Broken Hearts Go," and "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me.)"
Billboard put her soundtrack to the movie "The Bodyguard" as one of the top 10 biggest-selling albums of all time. She also starred in the film with Kevin Costner. The soundtrack included the hit,"I Will Always Love You."
The daughter of singer Cissy Houston, Whitney was born on August 9, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey. Famed music producer Clive Davis reportedly spotted Houston 20 years later in a New York nightclub, signing her on the spot, according to her website. Davis steered Houston's career for more than 25 years, also serving as a mentor.
The singer's rendition of the national anthem at the 1991 Super Bowl, days into the first Persian Gulf War, earned raves and cemented her place in the American musical landscape.
After "The Bodyguard," Houston went on to appear in several more films in the 1990s, including "Waiting to Exhale."
In 2000, Houston earned her sixth Grammy for best female R&B performance and, a month later, she was named female artist of the decade at the "Soul Train" Music Awards.
Her career stalled, however, in subsequent years as she entered rehab for addiction problems.
In May 2011, Houston got help for her much-publicized struggle with drugs and alcohol, her representative said at the time.
In a 2009 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Houston recalled how her mother arrived one day at her doorstep at her daughter's house with sheriff's officers and a court order in a drug intervention. She talked about doing cocaine and smoking marijuana.
"(My mother) says, 'I have a court (injunction) here," Houston said. "Either you do it my way, or we're just not going to do this at all. We are both going to go on TV, and you're going to retire.'"
Houston had a high-profile and tumultuous marriage to Bobby Brown, a former "New Edition" star who has had multiple brushes with the law. The couple appeared together in the mid-2000s on the reality show "Being Bobby Brown." They had one child together, Bobbi Kristina.
Houston was the cousin of Dionne Warwick, another acclaimed performer.

BATTLE OF THE TITANS...SUNDAY, STONY BROOK at Vermont, 11:45 am WUSB

SPALLINA, STONY BROOK BEAT COLGATE 13-10 IN HOME OPENER

Cook, Rubino lead Women's Lacrosse past Colgate, 13-10 - Stony Brook Official Athletic Site

Tommy Brenton awaits Vermont "love"

Stony Brook (12-1) at Vermont (10-2)...Sunday 11:45 a.m.
 (WUSB; CBS SPORTS NETWORK)

After pounding UMBC by 40 points earlier this season in Baltimore, it was only human for Stony Brook's players to expect an easy time of it against the Retrievers Thursday night at Pritchard Gym. Instead, they found themselves in an unexpected, ahem, dogfight for 29 minutes before taking the lead for good in an 80-68 victory.
It wasn't exactly a confidence-inspiring performance by the Seawolves (17-7, 12-1 America East), but it put them in position to clinch their second regular-season conference championship in three seasons with a win Sunday at Vermont (16-10, 10-2).
Stony Brook forward Tommy Brenton (pictured), whose passing and defense helped spark the Seawolves' comeback against UMBC, is looking forward to the hostile atmosphere that awaits in Burlington. "Well, I know the fans love me up there, so, it should be a great game," said Brenton, who has a knack for rubbing opponents the wrong way. "It's always a battle up there. We know that. It's one of the loudest gyms. They feel every call is against them. So, it's going to be a great matchup."
Asked how the Catamounts' fans display their love, Brenton smiled and said, "I get a lot of boos. I don't know why. I thought I was a nice guy."
With only two more America East games remaining after the showdown at Vermont, the two teams still could finish in a tie and Boston University (10-3) also could get in the mix. But all the tiebreakers will favor Stony Brook if it completes a sweep of Vermont. If the Seawolves finished tied with BU alone, they split the season series, so, the tiebreaker would be their records against the third-place team. The Terriers were swept by Vermont.
It's quite possible the Seawolves already had Vermont on their minds when they took the court against UMBC. After allowing the Retrievers to outrebound them and shoot 59 percent in the first half, they know what to expect from coach Steve Pikiell as they prepare for the Catamounts.
"I think the next two days in practice are going to be very intense," forward Dallis Joyner said. "I know the coach is going to bring that intensity. This game is going to make guys want to go hard in practice the next two days and everybody step their game up to the highest potential. So, it can definitely be a good stepping-stone for the next game."
Stony Brook and Vermont last met in the conference opener Jan. 2, and the Seawolves nearly blew a 12-point second-half lead before pulling out a 65-59 win. It's going to be a lot tougher in Burlington, and while they can clinch with a win, a loss will leave them tied, and the Catamounts have an easier finishing schedule. The toughest game would be at Albany (7-6), but the last two are against bottomfeeders on the road at Binghamton (0-11) and home against UMBC (2-10). Stony Brook's final two are at Hartford (5-7) and home against Maine (5-7).
There will be a lot at stake, including a guaranteed NIT berth for the regular-season champion in the event it does not win the conference tournament to get the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Stony Brook beats UMBC for eighth straight

 By GREG LOGAN greg.logan@newsday.com

The first half of basketball played Thursday night at Pritchard Gym simply did not compute. The University of Maryland-Baltimore County came in with a 3-20 record, including a 2-9 mark in America East play, but held a one-point halftime lead over first-place Stony Brook. The Retrievers' mind-boggling numbers included 59.3 percent shooting against the conference's best defense and an 18-14 rebounding edge against its top rebounding team.
But before Seawolves coach Steve Pikiell could light into his players at halftime, his veteran leaders -- Tommy Brenton, Dallis Joyner and Bryan Dougher -- beat him to the oratorical punch. "We were all thinking exactly what Coach said,'' Brenton said after Stony Brook's 80-68 victory. "We said it before he came in that we've got to change this game.''
The biggest factor was that Brenton stayed on the court after playing only five minutes in the first half and picking up two fouls. The rugged forward, the glue of the Seawolves, had seven second-half assists and five of his six rebounds to help turn the world right side up.
It was SBU's record 13th straight home victory. Stony Brook (17-7, 12-1) has won eight straight and 14 of 15.
It took a while for the Seawolves to gain control, but Joyner scored six points in an 8-0 run, with two baskets on feeds from Brenton, to give Stony Brook a 55-47 lead. Describing their chemistry, Joyner said, "When Tommy is on the floor, I always have my hands ready . . . In the first half, we just didn't make shots we usually make at home. They controlled the pace. Tommy is usually there to pick up guys [on defense] and make steals.''
Joyner finished with 14 points and eight rebounds, Dougher scored 10 of his 16 points in the second half and Anthony Jackson (17 points) and Marcus Rouse (14) provided a big lift off the bench.
UMBC (3-21, 2-10) was led by Chase Plummer's 18 points and eight rebounds. Brian Neller had 11 points and Ryan Cook 10.
With 2:50 to play, Neller's three-pointer cut Stony Brook's lead to 64-60, but that was as close as the Retrievers got as the Seawolves made 12 of 16 foul shots in the final 1:24.
"It's a win,'' Pikiell said, shrugging. "UMBC played well. They had nothing to lose . . . A.J. and Rouse came in and gave us a lift. You're not going to play great every night. But we got 80 points on the board. We wanted to keep our winning streak alive at home, and we did. They didn't like me much at halftime, but that's all right.''
Now it's on to Vermont, where a win over the Catamounts (16-10, 10-2) on Sunday would clinch the Seawolves' second regular-season conference title in three years.

Stony Brook Women's lacrosse set to start a new era in 2012

Under new head coach Joe Spallina, the Seawolves look to win their first-ever America East Championship.
It's a new era for Stony Brook women's lacrosse, the university's youngest athletic program, which is in its 10th season of existence. The Seawolves are now under the guidance of Long Island native Joe Spallina, who was named head coach in June 2011 after leading Adelphi to three consecutive Div. II national championships. With 13 returning letterwinners and 14 newcomers, including five transfers, Stony Brook is poised to improve greatly in 2012 and challenge for the America East Championship.

"We are really excited about the progression of the team," Spallina said. "Preseason has been difficult, but all the girls have bought in, and they are playing as a cohesive unit. I feel that we're solid on both ends, and that puts us in a position to have a great season."

Attack

Stony Brook's attack will begin with one of the most talented players in Div. II history in Claire Petersen, who was one of Spallina's transfers from Adelphi. The junior was the 2011 IWLCA National Attacker of the Year after setting the NCAA Div. II single-season record for points (182) and assists (125). She also had 57 goals. Her all-around stick skills will allow her to seamlessly transition to the Div. I level. She will quarterback the offense and use her field vision to score.

Petersen will be joined by a wealth of depth at the attack position. The Seawolves have six other student-athletes capable of contributing to the offense from that position, beginning with returners sophomore Alyssa Cardillo and senior Abby Ford. Cardillo led the Seawolves in scoring last season with 11 goals and 20 assists on her way to America East All-Rookie team honors. She also provides great field vision.

Ford is the team's second leading returning scorer after pouring in nine goals and 20 assists last season. She can play all three attack positions and provides tremendous senior leadership.

Also adding senior leadership on the attack will be captain Jackie Hughes, who did not score in 2011, but had contributed 10 goals in 2010. She had a great fall and will be counted on to contribute.

Joining the attack will be freshman Ava Fitzgerald, who has impressed the coaching staff during the fall and preseason. She is a natural lefty with explosive speed and is expected to make an immediate impact.

Adding depth on the attack are junior Kaitlyn Harrison, who had six goals last season, and sophomore Keira Smith, who missed last season due to injury.

Midfield

The midfield may very well be Stony Brook's biggest strength in 2012, as it will be led by a pair of stellar transfers. Junior Demmianne Cook, one of the team's captains, also comes over from Adelphi with a wealth of talent and accolades. She is the two-time reigning IWLCA Div. II National Midfielder of the Year and is coming off a 2011 season in which she scored 45 goals. A dynamic player with good size, Cook displays explosive speed and power on the field and will be counted on to help on both ends of the field.

Another transfer midfielder that should make an immediate impact is junior Janine Hillier, who comes to the Seawolves after two seasons at Florida. She was an All-American Lacrosse Conference second team selection in 2011 after scoring 34 goals for a Gators team that advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championship in just the program's second season of existence. A very balanced midfielder, Hillier can defend, dodge and shoot and already has big-game experience. She is a star in the making for the Seawolves.

In the midfield and at the draw will be freshman budding star Michelle Rubino. She is a dynamic athlete on the field and has already shown great abilities on the draw during the fall and preseason. She has adjusted to the speed of the collegiate game and will contribute immediately.

The Seawolves will have three other midfielders who show two-way versatility on offense and defense. Sophomore Emily Mercier, another Adelphi transfer, was a major contributor off the bench for the Panthers as a freshman and now brings her talents to Stony Brook. She will contribute on both ends of the field.

Joining Mercier as two-way midfielders will be freshmen Kelly Kuerner and Amber Kupres. Kuerner has turned in an outstanding fall and preseason to move up the depth chart. Kupres, who could also contribute as an attacker, is good off the dodge and cut.

Adding depth at midfielder are sophomore Samantha Citron and freshman Ashley Singer.

Defense

The back line will be anchored by junior captain Melissa Rotante, who started all 15 games last season. She is the team's best pure 1-on-1 defender and plays an aggressive style that leads to caused turnovers.

Joining Rotante will be sophomore Jessica Romano, who missed all of 2011 due to a knee injury. She played in the midfield but her versatility allows her to transition to defense. She too plays an aggressive style and will be counted on to disrupt opponent offensive sets.

Junior Justyne Passarelli is also slated to start, but may miss the beginning of the season due to injury. She was second on the Seawolves in ground balls and caused turnovers last season and was named to the America East All-Academic team for her work in the classroom.

Freshmen Claire Ganoe and Marina Mestres are expected to contribute right away on the defensive end. Ganoe has had a good preseason, and Mestres converted from the midfield. Her height and good stick will allow her to flourish.

Junior Matte Scully and senior Jackie Gentile should also see significant time on the back end, and freshmen Sarah Ehrman and Jenna Agostino have bright futures and will press for action as well.

2011 America East All-Rookie team selection Tara Gerstacker, the team's leader in ground balls and caused turnovers, missed the entire fall due to injury. She will be a major contributor when healthy.

Goalkeeping

Stony Brook's last line of defense will be a strong point with sophomore transfer Frankie Caridi and junior Hannah Perruccio. Caridi, who had a 5.91 goals against average last season at Adelphi, will be the starter and will be expected to translate her success to the Div. I level. She was the 2011 IWLCA Div. II National Goalkeeper of the Year as a freshman. Perruccio has had a great preseason and can be counted on to contribute when called upon.

Schedule

In Spallina's first season, the Seawolves will be challenged by their schedule, which includes four matches against teams that advanced to the NCAA Championship in 2011, including a pair of final four teams in Duke and Maryland.

The Seawolves will open the season with three straight home games at LaValle Stadium, beginning Feb. 11 vs. Colgate, followed by Feb. 15 vs. Manhattan and Feb. 19 vs. Central Connecticut State.

Stony Brook will hit the road for the first time on Feb. 26 at Monmouth and then head to Johns Hopkins on March 3.

On March 5, the Seawolves will host Duke, which advanced to the national semifinals last season. Stony Brook will then play at Florida, an NCAA quarterfinalist last season, on March 14 and at Maryland, the NCAA Championship runner-up, on March 20.

Stony Brook's non-conference schedule wraps up with Marist (March 24), Iona (March 27) and Yale (April 11).

The Seawolves will play a six-match America East schedule with home games against UMBC (April 4), Vermont (April 7) and New Hampshire (April 28) and road games at Binghamton (March 31), Boston University (April 14) and Albany (April 21). The Great Danes are the defending regular season and conference champions and reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championship.

The 2012 America East Championship takes place May 3 & 5 on the campus of the regular season champion. Only the top four teams in the league will advance to the tournament.

"Our schedule features a stretch of gams that will prepare us for our tough and competitive conference schedule," Spallina said. "We expect to be one of the best teams in America East this season."

SBU player suspended for offensive tweet

By STEVEN MARCUS steven.marcus@newsday.com

Photo credit: Stony Brook | Stony Brook University linebacker Matt Faiella was suspended by the NCAA for a December twitter post.

 

The NCAA reprimanded and suspended Stony Brook University football player Matt Faiella for a December Twitter post that contained what the NCAA termed an "inappropriate and offensive racial reference."
The suspension applies to a future playoff game, should Stony Brook qualify for the postseason.
Faiella, a junior linebacker/fullback who played in 13 games last season, will be allowed to play during the regular season.
Faiella's tweet was sent during the FCS playoffs and was directed at Towson University student-athletes.
"This was a very unfortunate incident, but racially insensitive characterizations are not acceptable and will not be tolerated," Division I Football Championship chairman Jim O'Day said in a statement. "The offensive language of this nature by Mr. Faiella, whether intentional or not, was unsportsmanlike and discredited the championship overall."
Stony Brook athletic director Jim Fiore said that when the university was informed of the post, it directed Faiella to remove it immediately.
"We're using it as a learning opportunity," Fiore said. "He's met with the appropriate people on campus, he's very remorseful."
Faiella, who is from Freehold, N.J., was not available for comment. His mother, Theresa Faiella, said she had not been in touch with her son to discuss the NCAA announcement and would have no comment.
Fiore said he apologized to Towson athletic director Mike Waddell, who was unavailable for comment Wednesday. Michael R. Harris, Towson's senior associate director of athletics, said, "Since this decision did not directly involve Towson, we do not have a comment."
Stony Brook appealed the ruling, saying Faiella should be suspended from the first game of the 2012 regular season -- and not the playoffs -- so the penalty could be served more swiftly. The NCAA denied the appeal, saying the suspension must be served during the playoffs. The university accepted the result. "We're moving on," Fiore said.
A spokesman for the Big South Conference, to which Stony Brook belongs, said it planned no action

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Stony Brook Men's hoops beats UNH for seventh straight win

Final Stats
• Watch the Replay on ESPN3

Tommy Brenton scores team-high 14 as the Seawolves improve to 11-1 in America East.

Durham, N.H. - Junior Tommy Brenton (Columbia, Md.) scored 10 of his team-leading 14 points at the free throw line, as the Stony Brook men's basketball team as a whole was 26-for-33 from the charity stripe in a 57-48 win over New Hampshire Monday night at Lundholm Gymnasium.

Stony Brook has now won seven straight games and 13 of its last 14 to improve to 16-7 overall and 11-1 in America East. The Seawolves continue to make program history; the 11-1 start and 13 of 14 winning stretch are both program bests in its Div. I history.

Brenton was 10-for-12 from the free throw line and 2-for-4 from the field to earn America East Player of the Game honors. Senior Bryan Dougher added 10 points, and senior Dallis Joyner (Norfolk, Va.) grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.

UNH was led by Alvin Abreu's 19 points and Ferg Myrick's 15 points. Abreu was 8-for-12 from the field to earn his team's America East Player of the Game award.

Stony Brook shot only 31.1 percent in the game, while UNH shot 36,7 percent and connected on 7-of-25 three-point attempts. The Seawolves outrebounded the Wildcats, 40-24, and limited UNH to just four offensive rebounds and two second chance points.

"We did our job tonight, but it was a real grind," head coach Steve Pikiell said. "New Hampshire does a good job on defense; they really make you work for it. We were fortunate to attack the basket and draw contact to get ourselves to the free throw line. Our defense was strong too; our goal was to hold them to 50 points and we succeeded."

The first half proved to be a defensive battle as both teams played physical defense. Stony Brook shot just 27 percent in the first half while New Hampshire faired only slightly better at 35 percent. The difference in the half was Stony Brook's ability to draw fouls, getting to the line 12 times and making eight of them.

The Seawolves' largest lead of the first half was only five points, coming at the 6:00 mark when Brenton put up a couple of free throws to make it 16-11.

The game was tied at 20-20 after back-to-back Abreu layups when the Seawolves made two of their final three shots. Sophomore Dave Coley (Brooklyn, N.Y.) took his man off the dribble late in the shot clock and hit a fadeaway jumper from 17 feet. Then Dougher ended the half with a circus layup in traffic just as the clock expired, sending the Seawolves into halftime leading 24-20.

Stony Brook opened the second half on a 14-6 run and benefitted from a Dougher three-pointer from Brenton at 11:17 that gave the Seawolves a double-digit lead at 46-36.

Myrick got UNH back in the game with 14 consecutive Wildcats points. His layup at 8:13 cut the lead to six, 38-32.

But the Wildcats couldn't come all the way back, going without a field goal for nearly a four-minute stretch. Dougher put the dagger in UNH with a 15-foot jumper in the corner at 1:25 that made it a 12-point game. The Seawolves converted seven of eight free throw attempts in the final minute to seal the victory.

Stony Brook will continue its stretch of four games in nine days this Thursday when it hosts UMBC at Pritchard Gymnasium at 7 p.m. The Seawolves have won 12 consecutive home games. The game will be televised on Optimum Local Channel 118. For tickets, call (631) 632-WOLF or visit GoSeawolves.org/tickets.

Giants beat Patriots again to win Super Bowl XLVI

INDIANAPOLIS -- Eli Manning and the Giants one-upped Tom Brady and the Patriots again, coming back with a last-minute score to beat New England 21-17 Sunday night for New York's fourth Super Bowl title.
It was a rematch of Super Bowl XLII, when Manning led New York past New England to ruin the Patriots' bid for a perfect season.

This was the first Super Bowl with two starting quarterbacks who previously won the big game's MVP award -- and they took turns being brilliant. Manning became the first QB to open a Super Bowl with nine consecutive completions. Later, Brady put together a run of 16 completions in a row, breaking another Super Bowl mark.

But in the end, it was Manning who directed the nine-play, 88-yard drive that put New York ahead when running back Ahmad Bradshaw scored the winning touchdown.

Coley's 17 help Stony Brook sweep Albany and stay in first

Dave Coley scored 17 points, shooting 8-for-9 from the field, and led four players in double figures as visiting Stony Brook beat Albany, 76-69, in America East Conference action Saturday night. The Seawolves (15-7, 10-1), who shot 59.1 percent from the field in the second half, have won six straight and 12 of 13. Stony Brook maintained sole possession of first place in the conference, one game ahead of Vermont (15-10, 9-2). Stony Brook will play at Vermont at noon next Sunday in a game that could go a long way toward determining the America East's regular-season champion.
Bryan Dougher scored 14 points, Anthony Jackson had 11 points in only 10 minutes and Al Rapier added 10 points for Stony Brook. Jackson hit three three-pointers in three attempts and Rapier had 12 rebounds. "I liked our offense but I didn't like our defense tonight,'' coach Steve Pikiell said. "But a lot of guys stepped up and made big plays on the road, which isn't easy to do in front of a sellout crowd.''
It was one of the more efficient offensive games of the season for Stony Brook, which shot 53.1 percent from the field and hit 9 of 16 three-point attempts.
Jackson, who scored 14 points in an 82-48 win over Binghamton on Wednesday night, has been particularly hot lately. The 6-foot sophomore has hit 11 of his last 20 three-point attempts.
Stony Brook found its offense early in the second half. With the Seawolves trailing 33-30 at the half, Coley and Jackson scored six points each in a 22-9 run that gave Stony Brook a 52-42 lead with 11:28 left.
Albany got within 54-52 on two free throws by Gerardo Suero at the 8:25 mark, but the Seawolves countered with a 13-4 run and went ahead 67-56 with 2:44 left.
Suero had 21 points and Mike Black and Logan Aronhalt added 15 each for Albany (15-10, 7-4). The Great Danes fell to 9-1 at home this season and had their home winning streak snapped at 12 games.

Stony Brook hits record 14 threes in win

By Greg Logan, Newsday greg.logan@newsday.com

It figured that Stony Brook might suffer a letdown coming off its nationally televised victory over Boston U. to face winless Binghamton Wednesday night at Pritchard Gym, and sure enough, the score was tied early when the first media timeout was called at 15:06. Coach Steve Pikiell made a wholesale substitution, sending in four reserves, and the Seawolves lit it up, making five three-pointers in five possessions.
By the time Stony Brook's 82-48 victory was over, the Seawolves had hit a school-record 14 threes in 26 attempts, and SBU's 45 bench points were nearly enough to beat the Bearcats by themselves. It was a tremendous turnaround from the six-point win Stony Brook (14-7, 9-1 America East) scored four weeks earlier at Binghamton (0-22, 0-10).
Pikiell showed his team that game tape and emphasized the need to play with more energy, and that's what the bench provided. Backup point guard Anthony Jackson led the way with 14 points, hitting 4 of 8 from three-point range, and Marcus Rouse added 11 points, shooting 5-for-7. Bryan Dougher was the only starter in double figures with 13 points. Robert Mansell led the Bearcats with 10 points.
The weird thing about Stony Brook's five straight three-pointers was that they all came from the right wing. It began with the first of two threes by Leonard Hayes and included two by Jackson and one by Rouse as the Seawolves shot out to a 21-8 lead.
"It was preparation," said Jackson, whose .471 three-point shooting percentage leads America East. "In warm-ups we go hard and shoot gamelike shots so we can be ready coming off the bench to be instant offense . . . This game was very important coming off against someone not doing as well. There can't be a drop-off. You can't be lackadaisical."
The first half ended with Jackson burying a three from the top of the arc for a 50-15 lead that marked Stony Brook's largest output in a single half since Jan. 17, 2010 against Hartford. A three by Danny Carter from well beyond the arc with 14:14 left to play gave Stony Brook its biggest lead at 63-23.
Pikiell gave his bench extended minutes in the second half, knowing five of the next six games come on the road, and the reserves responded.
"We stay ready and try to give a spark," Rouse said. "I try to take the opportunity in whatever time I get. This game helps our confidence a lot."

Stony Brook Announces 2012 Football Recruiting Class

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Eleven talented student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to play football for defending Big South Conference champion Stony Brook, head coach Chuck Priore announced on Wednesday afternoon.
In addition, Dimetrius Bernard (Jamaica, N.Y.), Marcus Coker (Beltsville, Md.) Adrian Coxson (Baltimore, Md.) and Greg Melendez (Brookyn, N.Y.) have accepted grant-in-aid offers. Coker and Coxson have enrolled at Stony Brook for the spring semester.
The 15-player recruiting class is made of student-athletes from six states, including five players from New York. Stony Brook won its first outright conference championship after defeating Liberty, 41-31, in the 2011 regular season finale. The Seawolves, who won nine straight games, advanced to the quarterfinals of the Division I Football Championship.
The offense returns Big South Offensive Player of the Year in Miguel Maysonet (1,633 rushing yards, 15 TDs) and Kyle Essington (1,919 passing yards, 20 TDs) as well as four of its five starting line. The defense returns six starters, including Jawara Dudley who earned first team all-conference honors.

2012 Stony Brook Football Recruiting Class
Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Video	Hometown/High School/Previous School
Dimetrius Bernard	DL	6-4	260		Jamaica, N.Y./Holy Cross/Fresno City College
Marcus Coker *^	RB	6-0	230		Beltsville, Md./DeMatha Catholic/Iowa
Adrian Coxson *^	WR	6-1	205		Baltimore, Md./City College/Maryland
Pat D'Amato	QB/ATH	6-2	200		Wethersfield, Conn./Xavier
Connor Davis	TE/DE	6-8	240		Fallston, Md./Fallston
Angelo DeShields	WR	6-0	195		Baltimore, Md./Mount Saint Joseph
Abiade "A.B." Granger	CB	5-10	165		Riviera Beach, Fla./Suncoast
Da'Rell Hatcher	RB	5-10	200		Amityville, N.Y./Amityville
Carlos Hernandez	QB	6-3	200		Moreno Valley, Calif./Rancho Verde
Deshawn Lindsay	S	5-11	170		Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Plantation
Chris Makulik	FB	6-2	240		Patchogue, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford
Greg Melendez	S	6-1	210		Brooklyn, N.Y./Canarsie/Idaho State
Aaron Thompson	DL	6-4	240		Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park
Nick Vitale	WR	5-9	185		Madison, Conn./Daniel Hand
Jaheem Woods	CB	6-0	180		Neptune, N.J./Neptune

* Mid-year transfer
^ Enrolled at Stony Brook 2012 spring semester

PLAYERS BY STATE 
California (1): Carlos Hernandez
Connecticut (2): Pat D'Amato, Nick Vitale
Florida (2): Abiade Granger, Deshawn Lindsay
Maryland (4): Marcus Coker, Adrian Coxson, Connor Davis, Angelo DeShields
New Jersey (1): Jaheem Woods
New York: (5): Dimetrius Bernard, Da'Rell Hatcher, Chris Makulik, Greg Melendez, Aaron Thompson
PLAYERS BY POSITION
Cornerback (2): Abiade Granger, Jaheem Woods
Safeties (2): Deshawn Lindsay, Greg Melendez
Defensive End (1): Connor Davis (TE)
Defensive Line (2): Dimetrius Bernard, Aaron Thompson
Fullback (1): Chris Makulik
Quarterback (2): Pat D'Amato (ATH), Carlos Hernandez
Running Back (2): Marcus Coker, Da'Rell Hatcher
Wide Receiver (3): Marcus Coxson, Angelo DeShields, Nick Vitale
Bios
Dimetrius Bernard
DL • 6-4 • 260
Jamaica, N.Y./ Holy Cross H.S./Fresno City College 
Before Stony Brook: A transfer from Fresno City College ... played in nine games, totaling 17 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, as a senior ... also recorded 1.5 sacks, a fumble recovery, a forced fumble and a blocked kick.
High School: A 2010 graduate of Holy Cross High School ... made 27 tackles and had a forced fumble as a senior.
Priore on Bernard: "Dimetrius played his high school football at Holy Cross in Flushing, so that's where we became aware of him.  He should give us an immediate impact after two years at the junior college level and secure our three-technique position on the defensive line."
Marcus Coker
RB • 6-0 • 230
Beltsville, Md./ DeMatha Catholic H.S./University of Iowa 
Before Stony Brook: Transfer from Iowa ... rushed for more than 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns in two seasons with Hawkeyes ... second in the Big Ten in rushing (1,384 yards - 115.3 ypg) as a sophomore, earning second-team all-conference ... named co-MVP of 2010 Insight Bowl against No. 12 Missouri after rushing for 219 yards and two touchdowns.
High School: A two-time all-state, all-county and all-conference performer at Maryland high school power DeMatha Catholic ... a four-star recruit according to Rivals.com and three-star according to ESPN ... accounted for 1,698 yards and 23 touchdowns as a senior ... rushed for 392 yards, a school record and fourth most in state history, and five touchdowns against Gilman.
Priore on Coker: "We're real excited about having Marcus for spring practice.  He was the second-leading rusher in the Big Ten, which should give us a big boost with the graduation of Brock Jackolski."
Adrian Coxson
WR • 6-0 • 205
Baltimore, Md./ City College H.S./University of Maryland
Before Stony Brook: Transfer from Maryland ... totaled four catches for 90 yards and a touchdown as a redshirt freshman ... originally signed with Florida before transferring during preseason.
High School: A four-star prospect who was rated as the No. 19 receiver in the nation according to Scout.com ... No. 101 in ESPNU 150 as a senior ... ESPNU's No. 16 wide receiver ... No. 20 in Top 150 Dream Team by SuperPrep Magazine ... No. 35 receiver according to Rivals.com ... totaled 1,930 yards and 19 touchdowns ... returned four punts for TDs ... Baltimore Sun first team All-Metro.
Priore on Coxson: "Adrian will help secure our wide receiver position and help us absorb the graduation of Matt Brevi."
Pat D'Amato
QB/ATH • 6-2 • 200
Wethersfield, Conn/Xavier H.S.
High School: Attends Xavier High School ... quarterbacked No. 1 team in state ... CHSCA Class LL All-State ... totaled more than 1,800 yards and accounted for 28 touchdowns (15 pass, 13 rush) ... led Xavier to Class LL state title ... All-Southern Connecticut Conference Division I.
Priore on D'Amato: "Pat led Xavier to two state championships as a quarterback/athlete so we're excited to have his leadership on our team."
Connor Davis
TE/DE • 6-8 • 240
Fallston, Md./Fallston H.S. 
High School: Attends Fallston High School ... ESPN Small School first team All-State ... Maryland Crab All-Star Game ... first team All-UCBAC Chesapeake Coaches ... Baltimore Sun defensive player to watch ... 235 yards and five touchdowns, and 117 tackles, 12 sacks and a blocked punt as a senior.
Priore on Davis: "Connor brings tremendous size to either position.  We're excited to have his talent level and his height at Stony Brook."
Angelo DeShields
WR • 6-0 • 195
Baltimore, Md./Mount Saint Joseph H.S.
High School: Attends Mount Saint Joseph High School ... 2010 & 2011 All-MIAA selection.
Priore on DeShields: "Angelo has tremendous skills and the physicality to play wide receiver at the Division I level."
Abiade Granger
CB • 5-10 • 165
Riviera Beach, Fla./Suncoast H.S.
High School: Attends Suncoast High School ... first team Class 6A-5A-3A ... second team All-Area ... Palm Beach Post's No. 36 player in the county ... two-star recruit according to Rivals.com ... totaled 35 tackles, nine passes defended and two sacks ... team's leading punt and kick returner ... blocked five field goals ... All-Palm Beach County in track ... state qualifier in the high jump, triple jump and 4x400 relay.
Priore on Granger: "We're excited to have his talent and leadership skills.  "A.B. is an outstanding athlete who will have a great future."
Da'Rell Hatcher
RB • 5-10 • 200
Amityville, N.Y./Amityville H.S.
High School: Attends Amityville High School ... second-team All-Long Island and third-team all-state ... rushed for 1,279 yards and 14 touchdowns ... led Warriors to Division IV Championship game ... rushed for 366 yards and five touchdowns against John Glenn, ending Knights 17-game winning streak.
Priore on Hatcher: "Da'Rell has really worked his way into becoming a top running back on Long Island.  His powerful running style will be welcomed in our backfield."
Carlos Hernandez
QB • 6-3 • 200
Moreno Valley, Calif./Rancho Verde H.S.
High School: Inland Valley Offensive MVP and first team selection ... second team All-State ... Los Angeles Times quarterback to watch as a senior ... All-CIF Central Division ... Central Division co-Offensive Player of the Year ... All-Riverside County ... passed for 1,900 yards and 28 touchdowns to lead Mustangs to 14-0 record ... threw four touchdowns in state championship game.
Priore on Hernandez: "Carlos is an established quarterback who does a lot of the things we look for to play in our system."
Deshawn Lindsay
S • 5-11 • 170
Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Plantation H.S.
High School: South Florida Sun-Sentinel's top 50 player ... Rivals.com two-star recruit ... accounted for 73 tackles and three forced fumbles as a senior ... 68 tackles and two forced fumbles as a junior.
Priore on Lindsay: "Deshawn comes to us from one of the better high school programs in Florida.  "He's a physical safety who can defend the run and pass."
Chris Makulik
FB • 6-2 • 240
Patchogue, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford H.S.
High School: Attends Patchogue-Medford High School ... rushed for 607 yards and six touchdowns ... had a season-high 196 yards and three touchdowns against Sachem East ... All-Suffolk County.
Priore on Makulik: "Chris is a local product who had impressed us in various combines.  His ability to play fullback and our H-back position will be vital."
Greg Melendez
S • 6-1 • 210
Brooklyn, N.Y./Canarsie H.S./Idaho State/Hofstra
Before Stony Brook: Spent last two seasons at Idaho State ... suffered a season-ending injury in 2010, but started all 11 games for the Bengals in 2011 ... recorded 51 tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble ... spent 2007-09 at Hofstra ... started all 12 games as a redshirt freshman, registering 72 tackles, three pass breakups and a forced fumble ... started all 11 games as a sophomore, totaling 72 tackles, two fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and an interception.
High School: A 2007 graduate of Canarsie High School ... All-Brooklyn and All-State selection ... led Chiefs to 11-2 record as a senior.
Priore on Melendez: "Greg is another local product who started his career at Hofstra.  He continued his career at Idaho State where he started each game last year.  Greg's an upperclassmen, and we're excited he's going to play his last year with us."
Aaron Thompson
DL • 6-4 • 240
Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park H.S.
High School: Attends Deer Park High School ... second team All-Long Island ... fourth team All-State ... All-Suffolk County ... registered 80 tackles and seven sacks as a senior ... team captain ... former high school teammate of current Seawolf Dimitry Russ.
Priore on Thompson: "Aaron will be a defensive lineman in our system.  He has imposing size and strength and will continue to get better."
Nick Vitale
WR • 5-9 • 185
Madison, Conn./Daniel Hand H.S.
High School: Attends Daniel Hand High School ... caught 52 passes for 863 yards and 11 TDs as a senior ... led team to Class L state title ... 2011 CHSCA All-State Team ... 2011 Walter Camp All-State Team ... Post-Chronicle Offensive Player of the Year ... All-Southern Connecticut Conference Division I ... brother of current Seawolf Rich Vitale.
Priore on Vitale: "Having coached his brother, Rich, we know what kind of player Nick is going to be.  He excelled at wide receiver as a senior, leading his team to a state title."
Jaheem Woods
CB • 6-0 • 180
Neptune, N.J./Neptune
High School: Attends Neptune High School ... Newark Star-Ledger's Monmouth County Player of the Year and first team all-county ... Shore Conference Offensive Player of the Year ... Group 3 All-State ... first team All-Group 3 ... MSGVarsity.com second team All-New Jersey ... accounted for 2,473 yards and 30 touchdowns ... helped the Scarlet Fliers to a state title after rushing for 257 yards, passing for 164 yards and totaling four touchdowns ... made 76 tackles and five interceptions at cornerback.
Priore on Woods: "Jaheem might be the best athlete in this class.  He's an accomplished athlete who's equally good on both sides of the ball.  We're excited about having his athletic talent."

2012 Stony Brook Football Schedule
Date	Opponent	Location
Sept. 1	Central Connecticut	STONY BROOK
Sept. 8	Pace	STONY BROOK
Sept. 15	TBA	TBA
Sept. 22	Colgate	STONY BROOK
Sept. 29	at Army	West Point, N.Y.
Oct. 6	Charleston Southern	STONY BROOK
Oct. 13	at Coastal Carolina	Conway, S.C.
Oct. 20	Gardner-Webb	STONY BROOK
Oct. 27	at Presbyterian	Clinton, S.C.
Nov. 3	VMI	STONY BROOK
Nov. 10	at Liberty	Lynchburg, Va.