Stony Brook must shut down Montana State QB

By Greg Logan, Newsday
DeNarius McGhee and defense. In a nutshell, that's the combination Big Sky co-champion Montana State used to earn the third seed in the FCS playoffs and a significant homefield advantage at 17,777-seat Bobcats Stadium for its second-round game against Stony Brook at 7 p.m. Saturday in Bozeman, Mont.

Quarterback McGhee is a two-time offensive MVP in the Big Sky, averaging 272.3 yards total offense per game and completing 67.4 percent of his passes for 22 touchdowns. He leads a West Coast-style offense that ranks ninth in FCS scoring (36.6) and sixth in time of possession (33:42) with a boost from running back Cody Kirk, who has rushed for 815 yards.

The Bobcats (10-1) have the seventh-ranked rushing defense (96.0) and will be facing a Stony Brook offense that ranks fifth in rushing (288.3) with the combination of backs Miguel Maysonet and Marcus Coker.

"It will be two teams that like to do the same thing -- try to play good defense and have good possession time," Montana State coach Rob Ash said. "It will be a battle of wills, I guess."

Stony Brook's offensive line averages about 40 pounds a man more than a Bobcats defensive front anchored by 252-pound end Caleb Schreibeis and 295-pound tackle Zach Minter, the one player who matches up well physically. Jody Owens leads a group of quick, hard-hitting linebackers.

"We're always undersized compared to the teams we play, and maybe a little more so in this game because Stony Brook has outstanding size in their line," Ash said. "But our guys are used to it. Caleb and our other end, [240-pound] Brad Daly, are very light, but they're tough, strong Montana kids who love to play and use their quickness to their advantage."

Ultimately, the difference-maker for MSU is McGhee. He has led the Bobcats to at least a share of three straight Big Sky titles.

"DeNarius McGhee is one of the best winners and best competitors I've ever coached," Ash said. "He's a great passer, but he also can run extremely well. We don't have a lot of scheduled runs for him. Unscripted ones are the best runs. He has a knack for moving the chains."

McGhee trusts the Bobcats' defense to slow the Seawolves' running game, but he's focused on trying to take an early lead to put Stony Brook (10-2) in catch-up mode. "We have to put points on the board," McGhee said. "If we score quickly or hit some big shots through the air or drive the ball down the field very quickly, we'll put pressure on their offense."

Playing a night game is a novelty for Montana State, which installed lights just last year and has used them only once -- in the opener this season. McGhee can't wait.

"When the lights come on, the players come out," McGhee said. "Hopefully, I'm ready to showcase what I have and our offense is ready to do what we have to do to get a win."

Stony Brook shoots and defends well in 76-53 rout of Cornell

Ithaca, N.Y. - Freshman Jameel Warney (Plainfield, N.J.) had a career-high 19 points and 11 rebounds, and junior Anthony Jackson (Columbus, Ohio) had a game-high 20 points as the Stony Brook men's basketball team shot a season high 53.7 percent in a 76-53 win over Cornell Wednesday night at Newman Arena. The win was the 100th at Stony Brook for head coach Steve Pikiell.

Warney was 7-for-8 from the field and 5-for-7 from the free throw line. Jackson was 7-for-10 from the field and 3-for-6 from three-point range. Senior Tommy Brenton (Columbia, Md.) added nine points, six rebounds and six assists.

Coach Steve Pikiell's Reaction

"I liked the way we played tonight. We did our damage in the post, both on offense and defense. I liked how we forced them to take jump shots, and we made sure to outrebound them and avoid second chances. We now have to head home and prepare for another big game on Saturday."

Turning Point

In the first half, the two teams traded leads in the early going, but it was Stony Brook that took control with a 14-0 run. Warney got the Seawolves started with a layup, and the Seawolves then hit four consecutive jump shots to close the run, including a pair of Jackson threes to give Stony Brook a 33-19 lead.

The Seawolves never looked back, holding as much as a 25-point lead in the middle of the second half while playing strong defense. Stony Brook punctuated the game mid second half when Warney connected on a layup in traffic and drew a foul. He missed the free throw, but Brenton broke free from his man and put back the miss to complete a four-point play.

By the Numbers

• Stony Brook shot a season-high 53.7% from the field.
• Stony Brook's 58.6% first-half shooting percentage is its best for a half this season. The 42 points are second-best for a half, behind the team's 48-point first half vs. Mount Ida.
• Stony Brook outscored Cornell in the paint 32-9 and produced 29 points off of 17 Big Red turnovers.
• The Seawolves outrebounded the Big Red 38-20, the 28th time in their last 31 games they've outrebounded their opponent.
• In addition to his career-high scoring output, Warney matched his career high in rebounds with 11.
• Brenton posted his fourth game of five or more assists this season.
• Nine different Seawolves scored points.
• Stony Brook's defense limited Cornell to 34.8% shooting and just 53 points. SB is now 20-1 since the start of the 2011-12 season when holding teams under 60 points.

News & Notes

• Pikiell earns his 100th win at Stony Brook. His record is 100-120 (.455), but he is 64-39 (.621) since the start of the 2009-10 season.
• Stony Brook is now 5-2 for the first time since November 2009, matching the 2009-10 team for best seven-game start and best month of November in the program's Div. I history.
• The team also matches the 2009-10 team for best four-game road start with a 3-1 record.
• Stony Brook improves to 3-4 against Cornell and 16-15 against the Ivy League all-time.
• The Seawolves came into the game America East's highest scoring offense (68.8 PPG).

Up Next

The Seawolves are back at home Saturday, Dec. 1 against Eastern Illinois at 2 p.m. For tickets, visit GoSeawolves.org/tickets or call (631) 632-WOLF.

Stony Brook's bruising back Marcus Coker tough to tackle

It couldn't have been fun for Villanova to first try tackling 230-pound battering ram Marcus Coker and then the shifty Miguel Maysonet in Stony Brook's 20-10 first-round Football Championship Subdivision playoff win Saturday. The Wildcats got hit 54 times by the best 1-2 punch at the FCS level and maybe anywhere.

Although Maysonet led the way with 160 yards rushing on 25 carries, the 107 yards Coker netted on a season-high 29 carries appeared to take even more of a physical toll on Villanova's defense. Coker gained 52 of those yards on the Seawolves' epic opening 98-yard, 21-play drive.

"On the first drive, he beat them up," Stony Brook coach Chuck Priore said of Coker. "He really did. Miguel gets out for some of the longer runs, but on Sunday, when you turn the film on, Marcus finishes a lot of runs. They might have been 2-yard gains to normal backs, but all of a sudden, he gains 6.

"We're really fortunate to have both of them."

Priore emphasized the running game more than usual against Villanova because starting quarterback Kyle Essington was out with a deep thigh bruise. It's uncertain whether he will start when Stony Brook (10-2) visits third-seeded Montana State (10-1) for a second-round game Saturday night, so the pressure is on the run game again.

The Bobcats have the seventh-ranked rushing defense (96.0 yards) in FCS and are fifth in third-down defense (28.83 percent). The Seawolves' offensive line outweighs MSU's defensive line by 40 pounds per man, but it's a well-coached unit.

"They're a great defense, probably the top defense we've faced all year," Coker said Tuesday. "We're going to have to step it up another notch. They might not be the biggest guys, but they're fast off the ball and they're physical. They probably have the best linebacking corps we've faced all year, and the DBs aren't scared to come up and tackle. It's an all-around solid defense."

No team is better equipped to attack Montana State than the Seawolves.

Maysonet has 1,881 rushing yards and is a candidate for the Walter Payton Award, but Coker, who has gained 962 yards and averaged 4.9 yards per carry, has just begun to display the form he had last season at Iowa, where he was second in the Big Ten with 1,384 yards rushing.

Coker's three 100-yard rushing efforts have come in the Seawolves' past four games. It took time to adapt to rotating with Maysonet, reducing his carries from 21 per game at Iowa to 16 1/2.

"I haven't really had the best stats that I'm used to," Coker admitted. "Getting in every other series was an adjustment. Now, I'm used to it, so it's not bad.

"I'm definitely a downhill, punish-the-defense type of guy. That's why I normally break longer runs later in the game because the defense just doesn't want to tackle me anymore."

Coker's transfer to Stony Brook spurred dreams of a national title, and he's excited by the opportunity.

"It's a great group of guys," Coker said. "I couldn't really ask for anything more."

Stony Brook's Kyle Essington may be ready for Montana State

By GREG LOGAN  greg.logan@newsday.com

Stony Brook effectively had its passing arm tied behind its back when it relied on the running of Miguel Maysonet and Marcus Coker to beat Villanova, 20-10, in the first round of the FCS playoffs last Saturday. But coach Chuck Priore knows his quarterback must produce to win Saturday at third-seeded Montana State whether injured starter Kyle Essington returns or backup Lyle Negron makes his second straight start.

The Seawolves (10-2) didn't practice Monday, but Essington worked out and showed enough progress with his deep thigh contusion for Priore to place his chances of starting against the Bobcats (10-1) at "50-50." The nation's FCS passing efficiency leader spent Monday morning in the pool and then did agility drills, straight-line running and took some pass drops. He also did light throwing with some receivers.

"He ran and threw today, so it looks pretty good," Priore said. "He was moving a lot better than everybody thought. The doctors are surprised he's where he's at today, so it's a good thing."

Priore plans to limit Essington to the seven-on-seven drill in Tuesday's practice while Negron takes all the snaps in the full-squad portion. Essington's progress will determine whether he takes any first-team snaps Wednesday and Thursday.

Essington was not in uniform for the Villanova game. Priore expects that much to change at Montana State but said Essington would have to be close to 100 percent in terms of being able to execute the offense to start.

"Certainly, he'll be dressed and ready to play if he's 80 percent and will be in a backup mode," Priore said. "He's not going to feel 100 percent, but he's got to be able to perform what we need him to do and he knows that."

Against Villanova, the plan was to have Negron manage the game, which meant he was called upon to throw only six passes, completing three for 37 yards and two third-down conversions. In effect, it took wide receiver Kevin Norrell, who leads the nation in average per catch (21.34) and ranks third in receiving yards per game (108.50), out of the game. He had one catch for 11 yards, and Negron missed him on all three incompletions.

Priore said the game plan was based on controlling time of possession, not Negron's lack of experience. The combination of the success of the running game, a 20-3 lead and the windy conditions allowed him to stick to the script.

"What we did on Saturday, you do once or twice a year," Priore said. "We did it at Army and against Villanova. You can't do that week to week because these guys will pick on you. To win championships, you've got to throw the ball."

Stony Brook gives UConn a good game before losing, 73-62

By MARK HERRMANN  mark.herrmann@newsday.com

STORRS, Conn. -- As much as it hurt to admit it, Stony Brook's loss Sunday showed how much the team has grown. Playing on the road against a ranked team -- a recent national champion, no less -- the Seawolves proved they have become good enough to be disappointed.

They were not happy with a moral victory in having outplayed Connecticut for a half and having led well into the second half. They were upset after the 73-62 loss because in their hearts, they believed they could have had a real victory, which would have been the biggest in program history.

"Basketball is a game of runs. They made a run and we didn't execute," said Dave Coley, whose 15 points included an electrifying steal at the defensive baseline and a full-court dribble and layup that put Stony Brook ahead 37-34 with 14:25 left.

Tommy Brenton, who followed that play with a similarly strong steal in the backcourt, court-long rush and two-handed jam to make it 39-35, agreed that it really felt as though the amazing was going to happen. "Absolutely," he said after his 14-point game. "You don't go into a game expecting to lose. We came out with great energy in the first half, so there's no reason to believe you can't do it again."

Instead, Connecticut found its touch and its stride, shooting 7-for-8 from outside the arc to take a 61-47 lead with 4:16 left.

Shabazz Napier, who played on the NCAA title team two years ago, made three of those threes (converting one into a four-point play) on his way to 19 points. Niels Giffey, a junior role player from Germany who had a career game (15 points, eight rebounds), and Omar Calhoun, a gifted freshman from Brooklyn (14 points), added two each. When Calhoun hit another three, the streak was 8-for-9 and UConn led 64-53 with 1:47 left.

So the team from the Big East beat the team from the America East, which is what a person might expect -- as long as the person isn't on the SBU roster.

"They're real disappointed," coach Steve Pikiell said. "We can play. We can play with these guys. I think we can play with anyone on our schedule. We've got good young players. We had three freshmen out there. We play one senior out there, really, Tommy Brenton. We're getting closer. We don't take a back seat."

Although Pikiell -- a former UConn two-year captain who received solid applause in pregame introductions -- said he wasn't crazy about his team's first half, it was a solid game for Stony Brook (4-2). With the Seawolves focusing on clogging the lane, No. 21 Connecticut (5-1) missed 11 of its first 12 shots.

"I see Steve Pikiell ," said UConn first-year coach Kevin Ollie, who got the job some thought someday would go to Pikiell. "I know how hard-nosed he is, I know how dedicated he is. He is a hell of a damn coach. I'm proud of those guys and I give them credit for giving us a hard game."

Before getting on the bus, which was headed for the ferry back to Port Jefferson, Pikiell sounded as though he likes it right where he is.

"UConn is a great place to go to school, a great program to play for. I met my wife here. My sister went to school here, my brother went to school here. So there's a lot of UConn in me," he said. "But we're making Stony Brook the UConn of Long Island. It will take a few more 'L's' and a few more bus trips, but we're going to be like this."

MBB: UCONN 73, Stony Brook 62

Storrs, Conn. - The Stony Brook men's basketball team outmuscled nationally ranked Connecticut in the paint, but the Huskies won the perimeter battle, connecting on 10 three-pointers, eight in the second half, to come away with a 73-62 win over the Seawolves Sunday at Gampel Pavilion.

Playing regular season games on back-to-back days for the first time since November 2001, the Seawolves (4-2) had a great effort, outrebounding the Huskies 38-35, outscoring them in the paint 24-18, and using 16 offensive rebounds to produce 20 second chance points. Junior Dave Coley (Brooklyn, N.Y.) had 15 points to lead the Seawolves, senior Tommy Brenton (Columbia, Md.) chipped in 14 points and freshman Jameel Warney (Plainfield, N.J.) had eight points, a career-high 11 rebounds and two blocks.

Coach Steve Pikiell's Reaction
"We had a good first half and we outrebounded a good team, but they made three-pointers, more than I thought they would. I thought we could score in the post more, and we actually scored more there than they did, but we didn't get enough touches inside."

Turning Point
The deep ball proved to be the difference. Stony Brook led 39-35 after a Brenton steal and fastbreak dunk with 13:04 remaining in the second half. The Huskies then went on a 26-8 run that included seven consecutive three-pointers, the last by Shabazz Napier that also drew a foul and a free throw for a four-point play. UConn led 61-47 with 4:16 to play in the second half and finished out the win.

By the Numbers

• Stony Brook was +3 on the boards against Connecticut.
• The Seawolves had another strong game from the free throw line, making 11 of 15 attempts.
• The Seawolves' largest lead was eight points, at 14-6 in the first half.
• Stony Brook held UConn to 32.3% shooting in the first half before allowing 63.6% shooting in the second half. Half of UConn's shots in the second half were three-point attempts.
• Brenton added three steals to his season total and is averaging over two per game.
• Prior to today, UConn had only made 23 three-pointers all season (five games - average 4.6).

News & Notes

• Stony Brook had been bidding to be 5-1 for just the second time in program history.
• Pikiell remains stuck on 99 career wins at Stony Brook and will go for win No. 100 on Wednesday.
• Stony Brook's last time playing two games on consecutive days in the regular season was Nov. 2001 when the program played in the Colonial Classic in Washington, D.C.

Up Next
Stony Brook hits the road once more for a Wednesday night game at Cornell at 7 p.m. The Seawolves are back at home Saturday, Dec. 1 against Eastern Illinois at 2 p.m. For tickets, visit GoSeawolves.org/tickets or call (631) 632-WOLF.
-- 

Previlon double-double lifts women's hoops to victory at NJIT

Box Score

Newark, N.J. -  Senior Jessica Previlon (Brooklyn, N.Y.) notched her second straight double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds to lift the Stony Brook women's basketball team to a 59-34 win over NJIT on Sunday. 

Coach's Reaction

"I was really pleased with our execution today. We rebounded well, played great defense and limited our turnovers. This was a really solid all-around effort and certainly something to build on going forward."

--Head Coach Beth O'Boyle

Turning Point

• The Seawolves held NJIT (4-2) scoreless for a 10-minute span early in the game and used a 14-0 run during that time to open up a 24-6 advantage at the 5:08 mark. During the run, the Highlanders missed 10 shots, including six 3's, and turned the ball over four times. Stony Brook led by 14 at the break (29-15) and NJIT could get no closer than nine in the second half as the Seawolves improved to 2-2.

The Numbers Game

• Stony Brook outrebounded NJIT, 40-20, including 12 on the offensive glass.
• The Seawolves held NJIT to only 11 total field goals (11-42) and 26.2% shooting overall. Stony Brook, meanwhile, shot 46.2% from the field on 24-52 shooting.
• Stony Brook forced 16 NJIT turnovers. 
• The Seawolves held NJIT's leading scorer, Rayven Johnson (21.6 ppg), to just six points on 1-7 shooting from the field.
• Junior Chikilra Goodman (Philadelphia, Pa.) made her first start of the year and chipped in five points, five steals, four assists and six rebounds.
• Sophomore Natalie Myers (Clackamas, Ore.) dished out a career-high five assists.
• Junior Teasha Harris (Bloomington, Ill.) scored eight points and added seven rebounds.

News & Notes

• Sunday's meeting was the first-ever contest between Stony Brook and NJIT at the Division I level.
• Freshman Alyssa Coiro (Califon, N.J.) scored her first collegiate points with a layup early in the first half.
• Senior Dani Klupenger (Aurora, Ore.) hit her first three-pointer of the season in the first half, giving her 70 career triples, the seventh-most in program history.
• Stony Brook's 29 first-half points are a new season high, surpassing the 23 the Seawolves scored against Rider.
• The Seawolves' 14-point halftime lead was the team's largest advantage at the break since a 41-26 lead over Maine in the 2011 America East Quarterfinals.
• Previlon pulled down 10+ rebounds for the third straight game.
• Stony Brook's 25-point win represents the team's largest margin of victory since a 71-40 win over St. Francis (NY) on Dec. 6, 2009.

Up Next

The Seawolves travel to Robert Morris and Youngstown State this week to close out a four-game road trip. Stony Brook will face RMU on Wednesday at 7 p.m. and YSU on Friday at 7 p.m.

So far, so good for Stony Brook football team, beats Villanova 20-10

By GREG LOGAN greg.logan@newsday.com

When this season began, the goal for Stony Brook's football team was crystal clear -- try to win the Football Championship Subdivision national title. With Iowa transfer Marcus Coker joining Miguel Maysonet in the backfield, all things seemed possible.

But for the past two weeks, the best football season in Stony Brook history was dangerously close to going off the tracks.

First, the Seawolves lost at Liberty, which ultimately cost them the Big South's automatic tournament bid. Then, after they received an at-large bid a week ago, it became clear that quarterback Kyle Essington would be unable to play against first-round opponent Villanova because of a deep thigh bruise.

But with backup quarterback Lyle Negron turning and handing off to Maysonet and Coker and a physical defense holding the Wildcats to a season-low in points Saturday, Stony Brook is right where it hoped to be after a 20-10 first-round victory at LaValle Stadium. Now the Seawolves (10-2) have a date with second-seeded Montana State(10-1) on Saturday in Bozeman.

Beaming coach Chuck Priore reached the postgame news conference and asked athletic director Jim Fiore, "Can you get a dome built for Montana?"

Yeah, it's going to be cold, colder even than Saturday's wind-whipped game against Villanova. But if the Seawolves can play as close to error-free as they did against the Wildcats (8-4), not even the second seed is safe.

"This team had a long two weeks," Priore said of all the uncertainty. "They didn't know what would happen. But they handled it well from the shoulders up . . . When they got the opportunity, there was no doubt we were going to play well based on last Sunday's excitement."

Knowing they were without their starting quarterback, the Seawolves were on point on both sides of the ball.

Coker and Maysonet set the tone, pounding Villanova's defense on their opening 21-play, 98-yard touchdown drive, which lasted 12:43 and was capped by Maysonet's 1-yard run 43 seconds into the second quarter. Priore said he'd never had a 21-play drive before, and it's a good bet it was the first time his opening possession ended in the second quarter.

By halftime, the Seawolves had a 14-0 lead on Maysonet's 14-yard touchdown run, but Villanova coach Andy Talley said it felt more like 28-0 because of the time of possession. SBU wound up holding the ball for 39 minutes and 32 seconds, including 12:00 in the first quarter and 12:42 in the third.

"They did what they had to do," Talley said. "We didn't have enough offense to threaten them. You have to stress them and get them to come from behind. They could have beat Syracuse with a couple breaks. They beat Army. Essington didn't play, but the new guy managed the game.

"They're a very good team. They're going to give scares to some teams in their run for the national title. I look forward to having them in the CAA."

As coach of the 2009 FCS national champion, Talley knows what it takes. He praised an SBU defense that held the Wildcats to 271 yards just by playing its base defense, and he said Maysonet (160 yards, 25 carries) and Coker (107 yards, 29 carries) are the best running back combination he's seen this season.

"They're built now to be an upper-level CAA team," Talley said of the Seawolves' conference change next season. "They have the package on both sides of the ball right now. People are going to pull their hair out playing them."

Most counted it a roaring success last year when Stony Brook reached the second round of the FCS playoffs before losing at then-No. 1 Sam Houston State, 34-27. But the Seawolves want more now.

Negron will get most of the snaps in practice, but Priore said Essington might play at Montana State if treatment goes well this week.

"Last year, we experienced the second round," Priore said. "Everybody looks at it as a positive, but to our program, it was a loss. Our plans are to finish what we do in the next round of the playoffs, go out there, be successful and bring home something different than last year."

Backup Lyle Negron will quarterback Stony Brook in playoff game

By Greg Logan, Newsday

Backup Lyle Negron will start at quarterback for Stony Brook in place of injured Kyle Essington in an FCS first-round playoff game against Villanova at 3 p.m. Saturday at LaValle Stadium. ButSeawolves coach Chuck Priore said he's more worried about stopping the Wildcats' offense than he is about how his team will handle a quarterback change in its biggest game of the season.

Essington won't even suit up because of a right thigh contusion. Negron, who has thrown only five passes all season, will make his first start for Stony Brook (9-2) and will be backed up by junior Craig Geoghan and freshman Pat D'Amato. But the return of veteran wide receiver Jordan Gush from a shoulder injury should help.

"I don't anticipate our productivity to change at all," Priore said of an offense built around the running of Miguel Maysonet and Marcus Coker. "The least of my problems is the quarterback position. On defense, we've got to control their quarterback running the ball, and offensively, we've got to block some of their schemes."

It's uncertain whether Negron can duplicate Essington's big-play ability in the play-action passing game, so the pressure falls to the Seawolves' defense to contain a Villanova rushing attack ranked eighth in FCS with 263.36 yards per game. Wildcats running back Kevin Monangai (108.2 average) is a 5-8, 200-pound power back and freshman quarterback John Robertson (85.1 rushing, 166.4 passing) is a dangerous run-pass threat.

Fortunately for Stony Brook, middle linebacker Jawara Dudley, who barely played in the regular-season finale at Liberty because of a groin injury, is back at full speed. He represents the heart of the defense.

"Absolutely," Priore said. "He's a playmaker and a leader. We need him out there, obviously."

Dudley said the Wildcats are "one of the best" offenses the Seawolves have faced. "[Monangai] finds holes that nobody finds," he said. He's low to the ground, but he squeaks through his gaps."

Robertson isn't a classic option quarterback. He runs designed sweeps but also is very good at improvising.

"You have to watch out for both, but to me, he's more of a runner than a passer," Dudley said. "He's a scrambling quarterback. If he doesn't see what he likes, he runs."

Priore compared the Wildcats to the Sam Houston State team that stopped Stony Brook in the second round of the playoffs last year with a similar attack. Monangai is looking forward to the matchup with Walter Payton Award candidate Maysonet.

"I've heard about this kid even before I knew we were going to play Stony Brook," Monangai said. "It definitely will serve as motivation for me to bring my 'A' game, as well as for my team."

In each of their eight wins, the Wildcats (8-3) outscored their opponents by at least 15 points. The challenge for Stony Brook's defense, which ranks fifth nationally in scoring (16.0 points) and seventh in total defense (296.82 yards) is to keep the score low to take pressure off Negron and the SBU offense.

"We can't worry about the offense," Dudley said. "We have to stop people, and that's what we plan to do . . . We need to make a couple stops to win this game. It's going to come down to it at the end of the game for us to make a big stop. I feel like we can do it."

Stony Brook identified as one of the top risers in college athletics

The DI Director's Cup: An Introduction to Recent Movers (WinthropIntelligence.com)
Stony Brook, N.Y. - Stony Brook Athletics, which had an unprecedented 2011-12 season that featured nine conference championships, an NCAA individual champion in women's track & field and an unforgettable run to the NCAA Baseball College World Series, has been identified as one of the top rising programs in all of college athletics.

In research conducted by Winthrop Research Services, Stony Brook was found to have the highest jump in the Learfield Director's Cup standings over the last four years, going from 269 during the 2008-09 season to 68 in 2011-12.

The Learfield Sports Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 20 sports -- 10 women's and 10 men's. Stony Brook finished with 276 points, the fifth-most among Football Championship Subdivision schools, behind only Princeton, Harvard, Georgetown and Cornell, and the highest among America East institutions.

Stony Brook's banner 2011-12 season included nine conference championships, six national postseason appearances, an individual national champion in women's track & field and the baseball team's run to the College World Series that shocked the world. The Seawolves had one national player of the year, one national coach of the year, three first-team All-Americans, 10 conference players of the year, eight conference coaches of the year, three conference rookies of the year and 71 all-conference selections. In the classroom, Stony Brook produced 190 student-athletes on the America East Honor Roll for achieving a 3.0 GPA or higher, six Seawolves were individually honored as the America East Scholar-Athlete of the Year in their respective sports and one scholar-athlete was named a Capital One Academic All-American.

Stony Brook is already off to a great start in 2012-13, winning four conference championships and earning two national postseason bids, including the university's first-ever Div. I at-large selection when the football team was included in the 20-team NCAA Div. I Football Championship field.

For the full report, including a chart of the most improved Director's Cup teams, visit Winthrop's website.

ESSINGTON UNLIKELY FOR PLAYOFF GAME..Lyle Negron to start

By Greg Logan, Newsday
Stony Brook quarterback Kyle Essington was the runaway national leader in FCS passing efficiency this season, but he likely will watch the Seawolves' first-round playoff game against Villanova from the sidelines Saturday afternoon at LaValle Stadium. Coach Chuck Priore said Essington is "questionable" with a right thigh contusion suffered in the regular-season finale at Liberty.

Backup Lyle Negron, who completed three of five passes, in limited time in six games this season, has taken all the first-team snaps in practice the past two weeks and expects to start. Priore said Essington "probably will throw" in practice Thursday.

"He could be suited up on Saturday and playing; he might not be," Priore said. "He's got to be 100 percent. If not, the other kid, who has practiced for two weeks and has been real sharp, will play, and we won't have any problems."

Negron is a redshirt junior who transferred last season from Bakersfield (Calif.) Junior College and spent a year learning the system before assuming the backup role this season. "He knows our offense, and he's been waiting for his opportunity," Priore said. "So, he's got it. He's a heck of a player. He's got as strong an arm as I've seen at this level."

Essington suffered the injury in the third quarter at Liberty and essentially finished the game on one leg, which helps explain the last two of four interceptions he threw in a 28-14 loss. His 175.8 pass efficiency rating was far ahead of the second-place mark of 161.51 posted by Harvard's Colton Chapple.

"During the game, I didn't know how bad it was," Negron said of Essington's injury. "The next day, coach told me to be ready. Anybody can go down. When you're the backup, you prepare like the starter. I got all the practice last week."

Running backs Miguel Maysonet and Marcus Coker are the strength of Stony Brook's offense, but Priore said the Seawolves (9-2) won't emphasize the run any more than usual. "If you go into a game and you try to hide your quarterback, you're going to lose the football game," Priore said. "The game plan was set for attacking Villanova, and we'll attack with whoever is playing."

Essington took over at midseason last year after a knee injury ended quarterback Michael Coulter's career and he threw four TD passes. But this is a much bigger spot against a Villanova (8-3) defense that is strong against the run and has totaled 14 interceptions.

"I put a lot of pressure on myself," Negron said. "I just don't want to let the seniors down. I know Kyle probably will be back next week if we get him through . Kyle deserves to keep playing."

Essington has been particularly effective throwing to wide receiver Kevin Norrell, who has 60 catches for 1,291 yards and 14 touchdowns, but Negron has chemistry with him, too. "Kevin is actually my roommate," Negron said. "We've thrown a lot together. It's just getting the first-team reps with the line in front of you. I think we'll be all right."

SUPER SATURDAY: MBB vs. Canisus...NCAA FOOTBALL vs. Villanova

Miguel Maysonet of Stony Brook unanimously voted Big South Offensive Player of the Year

By Greg Logan, Newsday

Miguel Maysonet left no doubt. The Stony Brook running back led the FCS in rushing with 1,721 yards and average per carry (7.72) and ranked third in touchdowns (21) to earn unanimous selection as Big South Offensive Player of the Year Tuesday.

As one of the leading candidates for the Walter Payton Award as the outstanding player in FCS, Maysonet set Big South career records for rushing and touchdowns. He topped the 200-yard rushing mark three times, including a career-high 220 that he topped two weeks later with 233.

The other Seawolves on the first-team offense are WR Kevin Norrell, who set Big South records for single-season yards (1,291), yards per catch (21.5) and yards per game (117.4) and RT Michael Bamiro and C Mike Lisi, both of whom paved the way for the nation's sixth-ranked rushing attack (290.55).

First-team defense selections are DE Jonathon Coats, LB Jawara Dudley and S Dominick Reyes. Placekicker Wesley Skiffington also made first team.

Second-team SBU selections included QB Kyle Essington, LT Scott Hernandez, CB Davonte Anderson and S Cedrick Moore.

Brittany Snow, America East Rookie of the Week

November 19, 2012

Cambridge, Mass. - Freshman Brittany Snow (Shamong, N.J.) of the Stony Brook women's basketball team was named the America East Rookie of the Week on Monday, as announced by the conference office. Snow made her first collegiate start against Morgan State on Sunday and scored 12 points in a 66-63 overtime loss.

Trailing by 14 points with 11 minutes remaining in regulation, the Seawolves mounted a 25-11 run to send the game into overtime tied 55-55. Snow played a crucial role in the comeback, converting a three-point play on a layup and free throw to start the run. The freshman also hit two free throws in overtime to briefly give the Seawolves a 61-59 lead, before Morgan St. battled back to reclaim the game with a three-pointer in the final 10 seconds of OT.

Snow went 4-for-5 at the foul line in the game and also chipped in four rebounds and two assists. Through three games this season, Snow is averaging 8.0 points and 4.3 rebounds in 20.7 minutes per game.

Following a break for Thanksgiving, the Seawolves (1-2) will continue their four-game road trip at NJIT on Sunday, Nov. 25 at 2 p.m.

Stony Brook to host Villanova in FCS playoffs

By Greg Logan, Newsday

The hard part for Stony Brook's Seawolves was not knowing. Losing at Liberty the previous week cost them a shot at the Big South Conference's automatic bid to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs and left them in limbo, hoping for one of 10 at-large bids in the 20-team field announced Sunday.

Coach Chuck Priore admitted he had "butterflies" two hours before the 1:30 p.m. selection show as if it were a game day. SBU athletic director Jim Fiore, who lobbied the NCAA selection committee during the week with help from the Big South Conference office, had no advance notice of the outcome.

"I wish I did," Fiore said, "because the anxiety was through the roof."

When the selection show began on ESPNU, the Seawolves (9-2, 5-1 Big South) gathered in front of a big-screen TV in the academic center and watched as seven at-large teams started to fill in the bracket. Suddenly, the words "Stony Brook" appeared, prompting a deafening roar.

Not only were the Seawolves in the tournament, they were hosting a first-round game against Villanova (8-3, 6-2 Colonial Athletic Association) at 3 p.m. Saturday at LaValle Stadium. The winner advances to a second-round game at third-seeded Montana State(10-1, 7-1 Big Sky) on Dec. 1.

Priore had warned his players that they might have to handle disappointment, but his voice cracked with emotion as he congratulated them on a second straight FCS playoff berth. "That's just Game 12 on our schedule," he said. "That's our approach. We'll be ready to play. I guarantee you that."

Judging by his players' reaction, Game 12 should be emotional. Offensive tackle Michael Bamiro said the Liberty loss "was really hard to bear," but the players worked during the week to stay prepared.

"My heart was beating the entire time, even from this morning," Bamiro said. "I couldn't sleep; I couldn't stop thinking about this moment. It's gratifying now. It's an opportunity to make it to the national championship. That's what the goal has been since Day 1 in the summer."

Quarterback Kyle Essington didn't want his college career to end with the downer at Liberty, in which he was intercepted four times. Describing his emotions before the announcement, Essington said: "My mind was a scramble. I was just praying. When we heard our name, that's a moment I'll always remember. Playing at home is going to be a big advantage."

Running back Miguel Maysonet, who led the FCS in rushing (1,721 yards) and average per carry (7.72 yards), was third in touchdowns (21) and is a leading candidate for the Walter Payton Award, didn't want the last carry of his career to be a fumble.

"The pressure was on," he said. "When you finally see your name pop up, it was a relief. I'm just happy.

"Now we have to not kill ourselves [with mistakes]. We have to be focused and prepared to play this weekend. We got what we wanted to hear, and look at us now. We're excited to go work out."

Maysonet joined his teammates heading for the weight room. Suddenly, they have another game to play.

Stony Brook Football to host Villanova in NCAA FCS First Round Game on Saturday, 2:45 pm LIVE ON WUSB

November 18, 2012

Stony Brook, N.Y. - The Stony Brook football team will host Villanova on November 24 in a first-round game at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium, the Division I Football Championship committee announced on Sunday. The Seawolves (9-2, 5-1 Big South) received one of 10 at-large berths to the 20-team playoff and their first-ever Division I at-large bid in any sport.

Saturday's game is scheduled for 3 p.m. and will be televised live on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app.

Stony Brook tied for the Big South title, its fourth consecutive conference championship, but based on conference road wins, Coastal Carolina received the conference's automatic bid.

The Seawolves have wins over Army and fellow playoff teams Colgate and Coastal Carolina.

Villanova (8-3, 6-2 CAA) finished second for the conference title with New Hampshire, Richmond and Towson, but received the automatic bid based on Old Dominion (10-1, 7-1) being ineligible and a tiebreaker. Saturday's match-up will be the first meeting between the two schools, but not the last. Stony Brook will move to the CAA after this season is complete. The Wildcats won the national championship in 2009.

The winner will travel to face No. 3 seed Montana State on December 1.

Tickets for Saturday's game are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at any time on www.GoSeawolves.org. Reserved chairbacks are $20. General admission seats for adults are $14 and youths and senior citizens are $10. Stony Brook faculty/staff are $10 with ID.

The Stony Brook ticket office is open Monday-Wednesday from 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. and 12 p.m.-5 p.m. on Friday. Offices will be closed on Thanksgiving. Gameday sales will begin at 1:30 p.m. at Gates 2 and 6.

For more information, please call (631) 632-WOLF.

Roland Nyama signs NLI to play men's hoops at Stony Brook

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Roland Nyama, a 6-5 small forward from the Holderness School in Plymouth, N.H., has signed a National Letter of Intent to join the Stony Brook men's basketball team in Fall 2013, head coachSteve Pikiell announced Thursday.

"I am so happy to have Roland join our family," Pikiell said. "He is a fantastic basketball player, but more importantly he is a great person. He is versatile, talented and a hard worker."

Nyama will come to Stony Brook after graduating from the Holderness School, the same school that current Seawolves redshirt freshman Scott King attended. He was born in Cameroon, Africa before moving to Germany. He came to the United States in 2011, and last season was a NEPSAC Class AA honorable mention after averaging 16 points and six rebounds a game. He's also developed into a terrific defender, often drawing assignments all over the court, whether it's posting up in the paint or defending an opponent's point guard.

Nyama, who speaks five languages, broke out this past summer with excellent performances at the Hoop Group Elite Camp and on the AAU circuit with the Westchester Hawks. His 2012-13 season at Holderness under varsity boys basketball head coach Tony Mure begins today with practice before commencing competition on Nov. 28.

"He's a really good person and overall one of the best athletes I've ever coached," Mure said. "He's extremely quick with long arms and has a great jump shot and is great in transition. His biggest asset is his defense. Some kids like to play defense, and he's one of them. He's tenacious, keeps coming at you and is good on the ball and off the ball."

Pikiell and the Seawolves are currently 3-0 this season and are searching for their first 4-0 start in its Div. I era. Stony Brook has been picked to finish second in America East this season and has won the conference's regular season championship and appeared in the postseason NIT in two out of the last three seasons. Stony Brook will host Sacred Heart Sunday at Pritchard Gymnasium, where the Seawolves have won 15 consecutive games, at 2 p.m.

Stony Brook announces change in volleyball leadership

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Stony Brook University Head Volleyball Coach Deb DesLauriers has been relieved of her duties effective immediately, Director of Athletics Jim Fiore announced Thursday.  Stony Brook will conduct a national search for DesLauriers’ successor.

“At this time, it is in the best interest of Stony Brook volleyball that we make a change in leadership,” Fiore said. “I want to thank Coach DesLauriers for her contributions to the program over the last 13 years and wish her all the best in her future endeavors. We are committed to building our volleyball program into an annual contender for the America East Championship and will immediately begin to find the best candidate possible to lead us towards our goal.”

DesLauriers recently completed her 13th season as Stony Brook’s head coach, leading the Seawolves to an 11-14 overall record and 6-6 finish in America East, which left the team short of a bid into the America East Championship. In her 13 years, DesLauriers went 190-200 (.487) overall and 76-72 (.514) in conference. Although she led the Seawolves to the America East Championship final four times in her 13 seasons, the team has never won the title and has missed the tournament altogether in three of the last five seasons.

Stony Brook defeats Rider, 54-46, in Tip-Off Marathon

By Greg Logan, Newsday

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. -- College kids generally aren't early-risers, but Stony Brook and Rider had no problems answering their alarms for a rousing game in the 6 a.m. slot in ESPN's Tip-Off Marathon Tuesday morning in the Broncs' noisy bandbox gym.

"If you need something extra to get pumped for an ESPN game, I don't know what to tell you," said Seawolves forward Tommy Brenton.

Stony Brook had to be alert to defend a lethal Rider attack powered by Nurideen Lindsey, the high-scoring guard who left St. John's last December. Lindsey hit a miracle half-court three-pointer that sparked a Rider rally to tie the game with 4:08 left, but Brenton and Stony Brook guards Anthony Jackson and Dave Coley dug in and pulled out a 54-46 victory.

"I like the fact that, when it was tied, we won the basketball game with four minutes left," Seawolves coach Steve Pikiell said. "We defend. This will probably be their season-low, 46 points, because they can really score."

Jackson and Coley led the Seawolves (3-0) with 12 points apiece, freshman center Jameel Warney added nine points and nine rebounds, and Brenton contributed eight points, seven rebounds and his rugged defensive presence. Anthony Myles scored 16 for Rider (1-1), and Lindsey had 15 of his game-high 17 in the second half. But the Broncs shot only 30.8 percent from the field.

"I think the biggest disappointment for me is we only had [five] points in the post," Rider coach Kevin Baggett said. "You're not going to win many games if you can't score inside."

Stony Brook pushed its lead to a high of 11 points at 37-26 after a spinning baseline move by Eric McAlister with 12:09 left. Lindsey still was in a funk after Jackson drew a charge moments earlier.

"I was excited," Jackson said. "I ran all the way down the court like coach wants us to do and got the charge call, and it got the gym hyped -- our bench at least."

A few minutes later, Jackson and McAlister forced a near-turnover that Lindsey chased down in the backcourt, and with the shot clock running down, he let fly with a three from just inside the timeline that banked in to cut the deficit to 37-33. He hit another three and totaled nine points in the 15-6 run that tied the game at 41.

"That was deflating," Jackson said. "I felt like we had a stop, and we end up giving up three points. You've just got to get past that one."

Rider's crowd went bonkers. "The crowd got into it, and the team got into it," Lindsey said. "It was kind of a relief for me, too. I was struggling a little bit. When I hit that, it felt like it was going to be a good night. But I give credit to Stony Brook."

With the game tied, Coley and Jackson hit back-to-back jumpers, Warney made a foul shot and assisted on a layup by Ron Bracey, and the Seawolves made their last six free throws.

"I was too anxious to sleep all night," Coley said. "But I can sleep now."

Stony Brook AD Jim Fiore: We deserve FCS bid

By Greg Logan, Newsday
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Stony Brook’s five-turnover day in a 28-14 loss at Liberty last Saturday might derail the Seawolves’ hopes of playing for the Football Championship Subdivision national title. The only way they can receive the Big South Conference’s automatic bid is with a Liberty loss at weak VMI on Saturday.

If that longshot doesn’t come in, then either Liberty or Coastal Carolina will get the bid based on various conference tiebreakers. In that case, it will be up to the NCAA selection committee to determine whether Stony Brook (9-2, 5-1 Big South) belongs in the 20-team field. The Seawolves were ranked No. 6 in the Sports Network poll and No. 8 in the FCS coaches poll but likely will drop out of the top 10 when new rankings come out Monday.

Even if Stony Brook remains in the top 20, it might be difficult for the selection committee to include two schools from a seven-team conference that is relatively weak compared to the larger, traditional multi-bid conferences, such as the Colonial Athletic Association, Big Sky and Missouri Valley. The Seawolves are moving to the CAA next year in football only for that reason.

“Our body of work will speak for itself,” Stony Brook athletic director Jim Fiore said after the loss at Williams Field, where Liberty has won 18 straight Big South games dating back to 2006. “We’re very much deserving of a bid. We have the fifth-highest RPI in FCS.”

Fiore was referring to the rating system that ranks the relative strength of FCS teams based on a variety of factors. Stony Brook is helped by the fact it played two strong games against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents, including a 23-3 win at Army and a 28-17 loss at Syracuse, where the Seawolves held a 17-14 halftime lead.

“We had one bad half at Syracuse, and we got outplayed [at Liberty],” Fiore said.

Actually, the Seawolves’ defense held Liberty to a season-low 259 yards of total offense and two touchdowns. The difference was an interception return and a fumble return that went for TDs.

Over the past 21 games extending back to last season, Stony Brook is 18-3. The only losses in the span came in the second round of last year’s FCS playoffs at then-No. 1 Sam Houston State, at FBS Syracuse and at Liberty.

Asked if Stony Brook belongs in the 20-team tournament, wide receiver Kevin Norrell said, “Without a doubt. Just look at our schedule. Maybe they’ll let us in.”

Liberty’s athletic director is on the selection committee, and Fiore expects him to advocate for Stony Brook. “Over 11 games, we’re certainly one of the top 20 teams in the country,” Fiore said. “I’m confident we’re deserving of the opportunity to play for the national championship.”