WBB: Stony Brook ready for conference schedule

8:58 PM By Marcus Henry, Newsday

Photo credit: Joseph D. Sullivan

Everything is in place for a strong run in the America East for the Stony Brook women: A strong non-conference record (8-5) and confidence. Stony Brook's start is its best since an 8-5 mark during the 2005-2006 season.

There are other things, like a more consistent offense and a team that can rebound well. But now the real season begins. The America East has always been a one-bid conference, so winning the league tournament is the only way into the NCAA Tournament.

Second-year coach Beth O’Boyle has done a masterful job recruiting and instilling confidence in her squad. This is evidenced by some of the numbers that have been put up lately.

Stony Brook outrebounded Iona 41-37 in Sunday’s 70-64 win. The Seawolves are 8-1 when they outrebound their opponents. Stony Brook also outscored the Gaels 30-14 in the paint.

Junior Teasha Harris had 15 points on Sunday. It was the third straight game she has reached double figures. All of this is being done off the bench. Harris has not started in any of the Seawolves 13 games.

Jessica Previlon had 17 points and 11 rebounds for her third double-double of the season, while Sabre Proctor had a career-high 25 points. Stony Brook hasn’t had a 20-point scorer since former Seawolves star Kirsten Jeter had 26 against Maine on March 3, 2011.

The real test begins on Wednesday night when the Seawolves host Boston University in its first conference game. Boston University is barred from the conference tournament, but the Terriers are nonetheless a league foe.

Women's hoops rounds out 2012 with win over Iona

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Sophomore Sabre Proctor (Harrisburg, Pa.) scored a career-high 25 points as the Stony Brook women's basketball team closed out the 2012 year with a 70-64 victory over Iona on Sunday at Pritchard Gym.

Coach's Reaction

"I thought this was a great battle today. One of the key points was how well we shot at the foul line, which made a big difference in the end. We also got some key defensive stops down the stretch and Sabre [Proctor] really came up big when we needed it."

--Head Coach Beth O'Boyle

Turning Point

• The Gaels (5-6) took a 29-23 lead into the locker room, but Stony Brook (8-5) responded with an 8-0 run to open the second half to go up 31-29. Stony Brook pushed the advantage to six at 47-41 with 8:00 to play as Iona made just three of its first 15 shots in the period.

But the Gaels would not go quietly. A corner three by Aaliyah Robinson capped an 8-0 run and gave Iona the lead back at 49-47 with 6:30 remaining. The Seawolves quickly evened the score and went back in front as senior Jessica Previlon (Brooklyn, N.Y.) rattled off five straight points, including a 3-for-3 spell at the foul line, to make it 54-49 Seawolves.

Stony Brook never relinquished the lead, hitting 22-of-26 (84.6%) free throws in the second half to clinch the win.

The Numbers Game

• The Seawolves shot 38.2% (21-for-55), while holding Iona to 34.5% shooting (20-for-58).
• Stony Brook outrebounded Iona, 41-37, to improve to 8-1 when collecting more boards than its opponent.
• The Seawolves forced 22 turnovers.
• Stony Brook converted 27-of-34 foul shots overall (79.4%).
• Previlon collected her fourth double-double of the year with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
• Junior Teasha Harris (Bloomington, Ill.) scored in double-figures for the third straight game with 15 points (11-of-13 at the FT line) in 26 minutes off the bench.
• Proctor made 8-of-14 FG and nailed 8-of-9 FT to rack up 25 points. The Harrisburg, Pa. native also added a career-high eight rebounds.
• Proctor and Harris accounted for 40 of the Seawolves' 70 points (57%), despite both coming off the bench.
• Stony Brook outscored Iona, 30-14, in the paint.
• Damika Martinez led the Gaels with 18 points, while Joy Adams recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

News and Notes

• Proctor scored 14 of her career-high 25 in the first half. With her career day, Proctor became the first Seawolf to top 20 points in a game sinceKirsten Jeter dropped 26 against Maine on March 3, 2011.
• The game against Maine in 2011 was also the last time Stony Brook scored 70 points in a game.
• Previlon's 17 points matched a career high set on Nov. 18 at Morgan State.
• Over the past three games, Harris is averaging 14.3 points per contest.
• The Seawolves scored 47 points in the second half, which is the highest total for a half since the team scored 47 second-half points against Nicholls State on Nov. 24, 2010.
• Stony Brook is 8-5 for the first time since the 2005-06 season.

Up Next

The Seawolves will open America East play on Wednesday at home against Boston University at 7 p.m

STONY BROOK FALLS TO SETON HALL, 60-59

By Greg Logan, Newsday
NEWARK -- Stony Brook led Connecticut at halftime this season, trailed Maryland by two with 27 seconds left and had a four-point lead over Seton Hall with 6:13 left Friday night at the Prudential Center. But the Seawolves are 0-3 in those games against power conference teams after suffering a 60-59 loss to the Pirates when Anthony Jackson's buzzer-beater missed.

Close-but-no-cigar seems to be Stony Brook's fate no matter how tough it plays the big boys, and you could go all the way back to the final game last season, when the Seawolves lost an NIT first-round game to Seton Hall. "We expect to beat these teams," Seawolves coach Steve Pikiell said. "We're good."

There's no arguing that point. Stony Brook dropped to 8-4, but Seton Hall (11-2) is a solid team that had to get a shocking 20-point first-half performance from reserve Brian Oliver, who made 6 of 8 three-point attempts as the Pirates took a 38-31 halftime lead. Oliver missed the only shot he tried in the second half and didn't play much, coach Kevin Willard said, because of stomach problems.

Pikiell might argue that Oliver came down with a case of Tommy Brenton flu after he assigned the Seawolves' toughest defender to cover Oliver in the second half. Guards Dave Coley (21 points, six rebounds) and Jackson (15 points) led a Stony Brook comeback in the second half.

Coley scored 10 points in a 22-8 run that gave Stony Brook a 53-48 lead with 9:14 left. But just when it seemed SBU finally might be primed for a breakthrough, the Seawolves struggled to generate much offense the rest of the way, scoring just six more points. They shot 3-for-9, committed three turnovers and missed their only two foul shots after that point.

Freshman post man Jameel Warney, who entered the game with the fifth-best field-goal percentage in Division I, shot 2-for-10 and was limited to five points and three rebounds. The Pirates, who got 12 points and 10 rebounds from Brandon Mobley and 14 points and seven boards from Eugene Teague, put together a 9-2 surge to take a 60-57 lead on a jumper in the paint by Fuquan Edwin.

Stony Brook cut the deficit to one point on a dunk by Anthony Mayo with 1:45 left and had the ball and a chance to win with 17 seconds to go. But Warney had the ball knocked out of his hands with 3.6 seconds left and Brenton had it batted out of his hands with 1.3 left. Jackson's shot was pure desperation.

"It wasn't clean, but I felt I could get a decent shot," Jackson said.

Once again, Stony Brook failed to get the break it needed to get over the hump. "To compete is a great thing," Coley said. "We can compete with the best of them."

Beating one of the big boys, however, remains elusive.

Stony Brook gives Maryland a scare in 76-69 loss

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Alex Len and Dez Wells each scored 19 points, and Maryland squeezed past Stony Brook 76-69 Friday night for its 10th straight victory.

Freshman guard Seth Allen contributed nine points and Pe'Shon Howard had eight points and seven assists for the Terrapins (10-1), who haven't lost since dropping the season opener to Kentucky on Nov. 9. The 10-game run is Maryland's longest since the 2000-01 season and four short of the school record.

After the Terrapins let a 20-point lead dwindle to 69-66, Len missed two free throws with 54 seconds left. The 7-foot-1 center grabbed the rebound of the second misfire, though, and dunked it.

Anthony Jackson answered with a 3-pointer for the Seawolves (8-3) to shave the margin to two points before Howard and Nick Faust each made a pair of foul shots to seal the win.

Jameel Warney led Stony Brook with 17 points and Eric McAlister had 12. The Seawolves had won four straight since losing at Connecticut by 11.

Len scored five points in the opening two minutes of the second half to fuel an 11-4 run that put the Terrapins up 56-36. Faust capped the spree by lofting a 60-foot pass that Wells collected on one bounce before dropping in a layup.

Maryland then went cold while the Seawolves rattled off 11 straight points. Allen ended the Terrapins' 4½-minute drought with a 3-pointer, and Logan Aronhalt followed with a buzzer-beating 3 to make it 62-47 with 12:27 left.

The Seawolves rallied but could not complete the comeback.

Wells scored 12, Len had 11 and the Terrapins shot 64 percent — going 7 for 12 beyond the arc — to take a 45-32 halftime lead. Howard contributed six points and five assists.

After Warney opened the scoring with a layup for the Seawolves, Len had three baskets in a nine-point run that put Maryland ahead for good. It was 12-8 before Wells made a layup, a 3-pointer and a three-point play to launch a 16-7 spree.

Maryland hit 11 of its first 13 shots from the floor, including a 4 for 4 performance by Len.

Senk to speak at multiple baseball conventions

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Stony Brook head baseball coach Matt Senk will be speaking at two national conventions in January. Senk will be addressing audiences at the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) in Chicago on January 4 and World Baseball Coaches' Association at Mohegan Sun on January 11.

One of the featured speakers in Chicago, Senk will discuss "New Bats-New Game: Stony Brook's Approach" with more than 4,500 coaches.

Senk will be one of nine featured presenters at the WBCA convention. Senk will speak about the Stony Brook approach and the Seawolves' hitting approach and pre-game preparation, including player checklist and staff responsibilities.

Senk, who will begin his 23rd season at Stony Brook in 2013, led Stony Brook to NCAA-best 52 wins as well as a memorable run to the College World Series. The 2012 NCBWA National Coach of the Year mentored seven MLB draft picks in 2012, including junior All-American Travis Jankowski, who was selected 44th overall by the San Diego Padres.

Balanced effort helps women's hoops down St. Francis Brooklyn

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Junior Teasha Harris (Bloomington, Ill.) scored a career-high 17 points and senior Jessica Previlon (Brooklyn, N.Y.) turned in 11 points and 11 rebounds as the Stony Brook women's basketball team knocked off St. Francis Brooklyn, 65-52, on Wednesday at Pritchard Gym.

Coach's Reaction

"Overall I thought this was a good team win. We had several players with big nights, including Teasha Harris and Jessica Previlon, who has been very consistent this season. It's a difficult time during exam week and I was proud of our effort tonight."

--Head Coach Beth O'Boyle

Turning Point

• Stony Brook (7-4) held St. Francis (2-7) to just 31.7% shooting in the first half and opened up a 28-18 lead at the break. The Terriers cut the deficit to five in the opening minutes of the second stanza, but the Seawolves quickly responded with buckets by Klupenger and Harris to stretch the advantage back to double digits. Stony Brook led by as many as 14 midway through the half and never relinquished its lead in a 13-point win.

The Numbers Game

• Stony Brook shot 55.8% (24-for-43) from the field, which is a new season high.
• The Seawolves outrebounded the Terriers, 29-23, including a game-high 11 boards from Previlon.
• Stony Brook connected on 6-of-9 (66.7%) three-pointers, while St. Francis hit 8-of-23 (34.8%).
• The Seawolves forced 21 turnovers.
• Stony Brook outscored St. Francis in the paint by a 30-12 margin.
• Senior Dani Klupenger (Aurora, Ore.) knocked down four three-pointers and finished with 14 points, her second straight game with four triples and double-digit scoring.
• Senior Chikilra Goodman (Philadelphia, Pa.) led all players with five assists to go along with four points and five rebounds.
• In addition to her 17 points, Harris added five rebounds, four rebounds and two steals.

News and Notes

• Stony Brook is now 5-4 all-time against St. Francis.
• The Seawolves' 7-4 start is tied for the program's best start since 2005-06 when the team won eight of its first 12 games.
• Previlon notched her third double-double of the year.
• Stony Brook is now 3-1 vs. teams from the Northeast Conference this season.
• SBU scored 65 points on Wednesday, which is a new season high. The Seawolves have scored 60+ points in each of their last two games after reaching the plateau just once in the first nine games.

Up Next

The Seawolves travel to Piscataway, N.J. on Friday to take on BIG EAST foe Rutgers. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.

Warney leads SBU over Sacred Heart

Fairfield, CT - Jameel Warney scored 17 points, shooting 8-for-9, and grabbed eight rebounds to help Stony Brook beat Sacred Heart, 64-59, last night in Fairfield, Conn., in a non-conference game.

Stony Brook (8-2) has won four straight, extending its best start in its Division I history. The Seawolves' 5-1 record away from home is also their best road start ever.

"This was a tough game against a good Sacred Heart team," coach Steve Pikiell said. "We were able to make big plays late down the stretch, and I liked our execution. We called important timeouts and came out and executed our plays to get the win."

Anthony Jackson added 10 points, six assists and five rebounds for Stony Brook. The Seawolves got a strong all-around performance from Tommy Brenton, who had eight points, 11 rebounds, five assists and four steals.

Stony Brook led 55-54 with less than 3 minutes to play but Shane Gibson's jumper put Sacred Heart (2-7) on top, 56-55, with 2:31 left.

Warney responded with consecutive baskets, a dunk and a layup, to put Stony Brook ahead 59-56 with 1:19 remaining.

After Gibson turned over the ball, Dave Coley hit a three-pointer to extend the Seawolves' lead to 62-56 with 30 seconds to play.

Three Gibson free throws cut Sacred Heart's deficit to three, but Jackson connected on two free throws with one second left to seal the victory. Gibson led the Pioneers with 22 points.

The Seawolves outrebounded the Pioneers 48-32, the 30th time in their last 34 games they have outrebounded their opponent.

SBU's Miguel Maysonet finishes second for Walter Payton Award

By Greg Logan, Newsday

PHILADELPHIA -- Somewhere on the drive from Stony Brook to Philadelphia for the 26th Football Championship Subdivision Awards ceremony Monday, Miguel Maysonet received a text from formerSeawolves teammate Brock Jackolski.

The two of them arrived on the Stony Brook campus together for the 2010 season after transferring from Hofstra when it dropped football, and they helped lead SBU to its first FCS playoff berth in 2011 before Jackolski graduated. With Maysonet's college career approaching its grand finale as one of three finalists for the WalterPayton Award as FCS player of the year after a second straight playoff season, Jackolski reached out to his old running mate.

Reading from his cellphone, Maysonet said, "Brock wrote: 'Good luck, my dude. You're Walter Payton in my heart.'

"That meant a lot coming from Brock because he's a great friend, and I always looked up to Brock as a player and as a person."

The voters went a different way, choosing Old Dominion sophomore quarterback Taylor Heinicke as the Payton winner with 531 points, including 72 first-place votes. Maysonet finished second (284, 13), and Wofford fullback Eric Breitenstein finished third (197, 11). Heinicke passed for 4,158 yards and 35 touchdowns and rushed for 11 TDs to become the ninth straight QB to win the honor.

"I wasn't disappointed," Maysonet said. "I had a feeling Taylor would win it all. Being here was a humbling feeling. It was exciting to be in the last three. In my mind, that's winning in my eyes to be here with these two great football players. Awards come and go . . . This award isn't going to define who I am and what I did for Stony Brook football."

Maysonet was accompanied by his mother, Yolanda Santana, and older brother Luis, as well as several Stony Brook officials, including athletic director Jim Fiore and coach Chuck Priore, who finished seventh in coach of the year voting. They came to honor his accomplishments, including 1,964 rushing yards and 23 TDs during SBU's 10-3 season and career totals of 5,110 yards rushing and 56 TDs.

But they appreciated Maysonet for more than his statistics. Recalling how Maysonet began his sophomore season as the third-string running back, Priore said, "It came down to who he is as a person . . . He's worked at being better at everything he does. Over the three years and the success he's had, his personality hasn't changed."

When Maysonet arrived, Stony Brook had won its first Big South title, but by the time he left, the Seawolves had four conference titles and had reached the second round of the FCS playoffs twice.

"Since I've gotten here, we just blew up," Maysonet said. "I hope Stony Brook can go even further and be more well-known, so when people say, 'Stony Brook,' they're like, 'Yeah, I know they have a great football program.' I'm happy I was a part of that."

Maysonet Second In Walter Payton Award Voting

Philadelphia, Pa. (Dec. 17, 2012) – Senior Miguel Maysonet (Riverhead, N.Y.) finished second to Old Dominion's Taylor Heinicke for the Walter Payton Award, which goes to the outstanding player in the Football Championship Subdivision, as announced by the Sports Network at the 26^th annual FCS Awards Banquet.

Maysonet garnered 13 first-place votes and 284 total.  Heinicke earned 72 first-place votes and 531 total.

Maysonet sought to be the first running back since Colgate’s Jamaal Branch to the win the award, which has gone to a quarterback for a ninth straight year.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (2002) and Carolina Panthers wide receiver Armanti Edwards (2008 & 2009) won the award as student-athletes on Eastern Illinois and Appalachian State, respectively.

The Payton Award, which is voted on by a nationwide panel of media and sports information directors, was established in 1987 in honor of the former Jackson State standout and Chicago Bears’ Hall of Famer.

Maysonet, an AFCA, Associated Press, Sports Network, Beyond Sports College Network and College Sports Madness first team All-American, rushed for 1,964 yards, the 11th most yards in a season in FCS history, and scored 23 total touchdowns.

The 5-10, 210-pound back accounted for more than 100 rushing yards in a game six times and had three games with 200 or more yards in 2012. During a four-game span, he rushed for a career-high three times, capped by a 233-yard, two-touchdown performance at Coastal Carolina.

In Stony Brook's two FBS games this season, Maysonet totaled 158 yards and a touchdown against Syracuse and 220 yards and two scores in a 23-3 win over Army.

Maysonet increased his rushing totals in each of three seasons as a Seawolf, rushing for 1,128 yards as a sophomore to 1,633 as a junior to 1,964 as a senior.

When factoring in his freshman season at Hofstra, he finished his career with 5,110 yards, good for 17th all-time in FCS history, and 51 touchdowns, despite averaging only 16 carries per game.

The 2011 and 2012 Big South Offensive Player of the Year recorded 21 games with 100 or more yards, had six games with three touchdowns and is the only player in school and conference history with two games of four scores.

Maysonet also owns school and conference records for career rushing yards (4,725), yards per game (127.7), touchdowns (53) and rushing attempts (695).

Klupenger sparks women's hoops to win over St. Peter's

Stony Brook, N.Y. -  Senior Dani Klupenger (Aurora, Ore.) scored 12 points off the bench to lift the Stony Brook women's basketball team to a 63-41 victory over St. Peter's on Saturday at Pritchard Gym. Klupenger made four three-pointers to move into fifth place all-time at Stony Brook with 77 career triples.

Coach's Reaction

"I thought we played intense basketball for 40 minutes and we were able to get offensive contributions from a variety of players. Dani Klupenger had a big night and Chikilra [Goodman] and Sabre [Proctor] really gave great efforts. When we are able to contain teams defensively, it helps open up things offensively as well."

--Head Coach Beth O'Boyle

Turning Point

• The Seawolves led by a score of 12-11 with five minutes remaining in the first half, before Klupenger sparked the team off the bench. The senior entered the game and drilled back-to-back threes to push the advantage to seven. Stony Brook widened the lead to 11 at the half (23-12) and never let St. Peter's back in the game, using smothering defense to hold the Peacocks to just 13 field goals and 26 turnovers.

The Numbers Game

• Stony Brook shot 44.4% for the game (24-for-54), while St. Peter's shot 36.1% (13-for-36).
• The Seawolves outrebounded the Peacocks, 38-27, including a 16-5 margin on the offensive glass.
• Stony Brook forced 26 turnovers and racked up 17 steals in the game. Gerda Gatling (Woodbridge, Va.), Sabre Proctor (Harrisburg, Pa.), Brittany Snow (Shamong, N.J.) and Chikilra Goodman(Philadelphia, Pa.) each had three steals on the day.
• Goodman paced SBU with 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
• Held scoreless in the first half, Proctor finished with nine points.
• Senior Sam Landers (Springfield, Va.) scored a season-high six points and added five rebounds.
• Redshirt freshman Miranda Jenkins added a career-best four points on 2-of-2 shooting.
• The Seawolves' bench outscored the Peacocks' reserves, 28-4.
• Stony Brook outscored St. Peter's, 30-10, in the paint.
• St. Peter's was paced by Kristal Edwards' 16 points, three rebounds and three steals.

News & Notes

• The Seawolves limited the Peacocks to just 12 points in the first half, the lowest total since holding Iona to seven first-half points on Nov. 18, 2011.
• With her four three-pointers, Klupenger passed Stephanie Bartlett and Jill Cook, who each made 74 career three-pointers. Now in fifth place all-time at SBU, Klupenger needs 25 more three's to tie Theresa LoParrino in fourth with 102 triples.
• For the first time this season, Stony Brook scored 60+ points in regulation. The Seawolves scored 63 points at Morgan State earlier this season, however eight of those points came in overtime.

Up Next

Stony Brook will hit the road next week to face local rivals St. Francis Brooklyn on Wednesday and Rutgers on Saturday. Tipoff on Wednesday is set for 7 p.m.

Brenton does little things to make Seawolves click

• By HOWIE KUSSOY
• Last Updated: 1:57 AM, December 15, 2012
• Posted: 1:45 AM, December 15, 2012
• 
  

Howie Kussoy

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Stony Brook had endured seven consecutive losing seasons when Tommy Brenton arrived on campus. It feels like it was eight or nine years ago, he says, but it was only four. His parents would come up from Maryland to watch him play at Pritchard Gymnasium. They wouldn’t miss it, and he couldn’t miss them.

“We had like 10 fans at games my freshman year. I could point out my parents in the stands within three seconds,” said Brenton. “Now we get sellouts, fans all over campus. It’s amazing. Just to know where the program has been, to be a part of changing the face of the program is huge.”

The Seawolves have won two America East regular-season championships since Brenton arrived, going 67-36 with him on the floor, including a 7-2 record this season — their best start since joining Division I in 1999.

Though Brenton has started since his freshman season, he doesn’t immediately demand your attention. He doesn’t flash before your eyes. He slides in from the periphery and pokes you in the ribs. He grinds, where others glide. He dives, where others reach.

Like an amateur Andrei Kirilenko, the 6-foot-5 forward fills in the blanks. This season, the fifth-year senior is averaging 7.7 points, while leading the team with 8.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists and two steals. Last season, he was the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year, and on Tuesday, Brenton became the school’s all-time leading rebounder. With 11 more steals, he will also claim that category.

“If there was a stat for taking charges, he’d lead that, too,” said Stony Brook coach Steve Pikiell. “He embodies everything that’s great about basketball. You go to AAU games and everyone’s trying to score 20 and then they’re tweeting about it. He’s a coach’s dream. Winning is the biggest part of him and he does it all with unselfishness.”

Not bad for a kid who didn’t get a D-I offer out of high school. Instead, Brenton spent a year at Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia, where as part of a 29-0 team, he developed his relentless style out of necessity, as a way to increase his minutes.

Excited by Brenton’s versatility and his ability to play power forward or point forward, Pikiell took notice. But shortly after Brenton helped the school to its first conference championship as a sophomore, he suffered a dislocated kneecap and tore ligaments in his right knee, causing him to miss the entire 2010-11 season. He did three hours of rehab a day, every day, for seven months.

“I was worried about being the same player down the road,” Brenton said. “My biggest injury before that was like a sprained ankle, so I didn’t really know how to handle injuries. Not being able to sit normal in chair, easy things in life, I didn’t really know how to mentally get over that barrier. It was tough.”

After a season filling water cups and passing out towels, Brenton returned last year, playing as if nothing had ever happened. But the team fell short of getting to its first NCAA Tournament, losing at home in the conference championship game.

It is the only thing he feels is missing from his career. So he does the little things, the things that put his teammates in better positions, the things that most wouldn’t recognize even while they occur.

But his team does, and that’s all that matters.

“He’s really an old-school player and there’s really not many of them around,” Pikiell said. “I think he’s the most underrated player in the area. He’s got a following in this community. People embrace him. That’s how you grow your program. You get fortunate to get a player like him.”

TOMMY BRENTON BREAKS STONY BROOK REBOUNDING RECORD IN WIN AT SFNY

Tommy Brenton scored only four points, but in many ways the senior forward was the most important player in Stony Brook's 77-61 win over St. Francis at the Pope Center Tuesday night.

Despite attempting only four shots, the 6-5 Brenton controlled the game. He grabbed seven rebounds, dished five assists and helped break the press when the Terriers turned up the heat early in the second half.

"Tommy makes it all go for us," Stony Brook coach Steve Pikiell said. "He didn't have a great game tonight, but he's a stat-stuffer. He's a very underrated player in this area. He's got a tremendous IQ and he's a warrior."

It was a typical game for Brenton, who does the dirty work. His rebound midway through the first half was the 906th of his career, making him the all-time leader in program history.

"It means a lot," Brenton said. "Just coming into this program from Day One when I was a freshman, not even knowing if I was going to play or contribute at all -- it feels like eight years later, I've been here so long -- just to know that I have that record under my belt and it will be there. Hopefully I have this for a long time."

Brenton joked that he hopes freshman forward Jameel Warney doesn't break the record. Warney had 13 points and nine rebounds Tuesday night, and is averaging 7.9 rebounds per game.

"We threw him right to the wolves," Pikiell said. "I told him that when I recruited him. He's done a great job with it."

Brenton and Warney were complemented by Dave Coley and Anthony Jackson on the perimeter. Jackson, the team's leading scorer, finished with 15 points, and Coley, a Brooklyn native, had a game-high 19 points.

"Ain't nothing like home," said Coley, who had a personal cheering section behind the Seawolves bench.

Coley's play was key during a run late in the first half when Stony Brook (7-2) turned a one-point deficit into a 40-24 halftime lead. The junior guard scored all 13 of his first-half points in the final 10 minutes.

St. Francis (2-6) cut the deficit to single digits at 40-31 in the opening minutes of the second half thanks to its pressure defense. But the Seawolves settled down and pulled away for their third straight win.

"I think this game really showed that we can finish down the stretch," Brenton said. "Coach always talks about finishing strong and don't let your lead slip away at halftime."

Coley leads Stony Brook to win in Brooklyn homecoming

Brooklyn Heights, N.Y. - In his return to his home borough, junior Dave Coley (Brooklyn, N.Y.) scored a game-high 19 points, including 13 as part of a first-half ending 24-7 run to lead the Stony Brook men's basketball team to a 77-61 win over St. Francis Brooklyn Tuesday night at Pope Physical Education Center.

The win is the third straight for Stony Brook, which is now 7-2 this season, the program's best nine-game start in its Div. I history. In addition to his 19 points, Coley, a product of Thomas Jefferson High School in Brooklyn, had eight rebounds. Junior Anthony Jackson (Columbus, Ohio) added 15 points, and freshman Jameel Warney (Plainfield, N.J.) had 13 points and nine rebounds.

Senior Tommy Brenton (Columbia, Md.) had seven rebounds, becoming Stony Brook's all-time leading rebounder with 910 for his career.

Coach Steve Pikiell's Reaction
"We played defense tonight, and I thought that was a big key. And I wanted to get to the free throw line, and we got to the free throw line. We did the things we needed to do to win. We jumped out and played well tonight."

Turning Point
Trailing 17-16 mid first-half, the Seawolves ignited a 24-7 half-ending run, led by Coley. He bombed a three-pointer to put SB on top 23-17. Later, he stripped a Terriers player and went up for a fastbreak layup to give the Seawolves their first double-digit lead, 30-20. To end the half, he took the game clock down and then drilled a three-pointer from 22 feet to send the Seawolves into the locker room up 40-24.

St. Francis got as close as nine points in the second half, as the Seawolves answered every Terrier run with big shots and defensive stops. They also went 17-for-20 from the free throw line in the second half, taking advantage of Terriers foul trouble.

By the Numbers

• Stony Brook outrebounded St. Francis 41-29, the 29th time in the last 33 games the Seawolves have outrebounded their opponent.
• The Seawolves shot 48.1% for the game, including 60% in the first half.
• The SB defense held St. Francis under 40% shooting (39.3%), giving the Seawolves a 6-0 record this season and 66-18 record in the Pikiell era when doing accomplishing the feat.
• Brenton added five assists and now has six games of five assists or more this season.
• The Seawolves outscored the Terriers in the paint 34-26 and have now outscored their last five opponents in the paint 142-90.
• Coley's 13 first-half points were the most he's had in a first half in his career. His previous high was 10 vs. Fairleigh Dickinson in 2011.
• Stony Brook was 23-for-30 from the free throw line to St. Francis' 9-for-14.

News & Notes

• Brenton surpassed Yves Simon (1987-91) for the Stony Brook rebounding record. He already was the school's all-time leading Div. I rebounder. He is now only 90 rebounds away from 1,000 and would be only the eighth America East player to ever reach that mark.
• Stony Brook's nine-game start surpasses the 2009-10 team, which was 6-3.
• Stony Brook also surpassed the 2009-10 team for best five-game road start with a 4-1 record.
• Stony Brook improved to 1-1 against St. Francis all-time and is now 5-4 against NEC teams since the start of the 2009-10 season.
• Stony Brook has held a halftime lead over all nine of its opponents this season.

Up Next
Stony Brook is back in action on Tuesday, Dec. 18 at Sacred Heart at 7 p.m.

Football holds annual awards banquet

Dec. 10, 2012

 Photo Gallery

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Closing out the year in style, the Stony Brook football team held the 2012 Grant Family Banquet at the Student Activities Center on campus Sunday. Head coach Chuck Priore handed out the team's awards and announced the 2013 captains.

The Ernest Owusu Offensive MVP went to senior Miguel Maysonet(Riverhead, N.Y.). Maysonet, a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, given to the outstanding player in FCS, rushed for 1,964 yards, the 11th most yards in a season in FCS history, and scored 23 total touchdowns. The 5-10, 210-pound back accounted for more than 100 rushing yards in a game six times and had three games with 200 or more yards in 2012. During a four-game span, he rushed for a career-high three times, capped by a 233-yard, two-touchdown performance at Coastal Carolina.

Senior Dominick Reyes (Hesperia, Calif.) captured the team's Defensive MVP award. Reyes finished the season with a career-best 75 tackles, becoming the Seawolves' all-time leader with 158 solo tackles. He was second on the team with 9.0 tackles for loss, starting each game for a third straight season.

Redshirt freshman Naim Cheeseboro (King of Prussia, Pa.) garnered the Ray Downey Special Teams MVP. The special teams ace made 26 tackles, often being the first player downfield on kick-off coverage. His recovery of a free kick against Villanova helped the Seawolves extend their lead in the first-round victory.

The Offensive Rookie of the Year went to junior Marcus Coker (Beltsville, Md.). Coker, a transfer from Iowa, rushed for 1,018 yards and 9 TDs, giving the Seawolves two backs with 1,000 yards for a third straight season. Eight of his nine scores were inside four yards.

Junior Leston Simpson (Springfield Gardens, N.Y.) led Stony Brook with 10.0 tackles for loss en route to Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Simpson, who finished second among all defensive linemen with 35 tackles, also made four sacks, and totaled a career-high seven tackles against Pace and Coastal Carolina.

Senior Kyle Essington (Chino Hills, Calif.) earned the Fred Kemp Award, given to the upperclassman who is dedicated to excellence on and off the field, while leading the team with pride and intensity. The Mark Motroni Award, which goes to the upperclassman who demonstrates great pride in the Stony Brook football program and consistently exhibits unselfish dedication to the team, was awarded to senior Chris Fenelon (Bellerose, N.Y.).

For a second straight year, senior Jonathan Coats (Elmira Heights, N.Y.) received the Frank Conti Work Horse Award and junior Victor Spinelli (Northport, N.Y.) earned the Academic Achievement Award.

Priore also announced that seniors Davonte Anderson (Corona, Calif.), Michael Bamiro (Tobyhanna, Pa.), Jawara Dudley (Roosevelt, N.Y.) and Matt Faiella (Freehold, N.J.) will be the 2013 captains.

A special thanks goes to Alphonzo Grant '93, '94 and Isis Sapp-Grant '93 for sponsoring the dinner, Mark Motroni, Jr. '88 for sponsoring the awards and Mike Derice '08 for sponsoring the coaches' table.

Thanks to John Campolettano, Jr., Chuck Downey '88, Steven Mardy '05, Jim Megna '89, Dan Michitsch '07, Stu Sharoff '88, Roberto Tillman '78, Tony Thompson '97 and Sean Van Slyck '95 for sponsoring the student-athletes. 

Women's hoops takes down Fordham, 58-46

Bronx, N.Y. -  Junior Chikilra Goodman (Philadelphia, Pa.) posted her second straight double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds to lift the Stony Brook women's basketball team to a 58-46 win over Fordham on Saturday at Rose Hill Gym.

Coach's Reaction

"This was a great team effort. We had contributions from a variety of players, and because of our depth, we were really able to push the tempo for 40 minutes."

--Head Coach Beth O'Boyle

Turning Point

• Stony Brook (5-3) used a 12-2 run at the end of the first half to take a 28-20 lead into the break. The Rams (5-4) narrowed the gap to three at 34-31 at the 15:26 mark of the second half, but the Seawolves again took over with a 15-0 run over the next seven minutes to push their lead to 18. During that time, Fordham missed six shots and committed four turnovers.
   

The Numbers Game

• Stony Brook held Fordham to just 33.3% from the field (16-for-48).
• The Seawolves shot 50% (23-for-46) for the first time this season.
• The Seawolves outrebounded the Rams, 33-26, marking the sixth game this season that Stony Brook has pulled down more boards than its opponent.
• In addition to her 17 points and 12 rebounds, Goodman also added four assists and four steals. The junior has posted four or more steals in three of her six games this season.
• Senior Jessica Previlon (Brooklyn, N.Y.) added 12 points, five rebounds and three assists.
• Sophomore Sabre Proctor (Harrisburg, Pa.) chipped in 13 points off the bench. Proctor went 5-for-10 from the field and 3-for-3 at the foul line, raising her free throw shooting to 88% on the year, good for the best mark in the America East.
• The Seawolves bench outscored Fordham's by an 18-4 margin in the game. 
• Fordham's leading scorer, Marah Strickland (13.6 ppg), was held without a point in the first half. Strickland scored 13 in the second stanza, before fouling out with 40 seconds remaining.
   

News & Notes

• Stony Brook has won four of its last five games.
• The Seawolves are now 5-0 this year when holding opponents under 60 points.
• Goodman led Stony Brook in both scoring and rebounding for the second straight game.
• Stony Brook held Fordham without a basket for the first 7:03 of the game. The Rams missed their first seven shots, scoring their first six points of the contest at the free throw line.
• Senior Sam Landers (Springfield, Va.) made her season debut on Saturday after missing the first seven games of the season with an illness. 
• The Seawolves are 5-3 to start the season for the first time since the 2005-06 campaign. That year, Stony Brook won 20 games and made a WNIT appearance.

Up Next

The Seawolves will return home to face Fairleigh Dickinson on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

SBU's Paul Fenaroli signed to Giants' practice squad

By Tom Rock, Newsday

The Giants have their first ever Seawolf.

Paul Fenaroli, a center at Stony Brook University for four seasons, was signed to the Giants’ practice squad on Wednesday. It’s about 65 miles from Stony Brook University to the Giants’ training facility at the Timex Performance Center, but it’s taken Fenaroli a couple of years to get here.

After finishing his career at Stony Brook he played for the Iowa Barnstormers in the Arena Football League, then spent time during 2011’s preseason with the Falcons and the Packers. He played for the Orlando Predators this past winter in the AFL, was in training camp briefly with the Saints, and last played for the Virginia Destroyers in the UFL.

Six different teams. Three different leagues (one of them now defunct). And now he’s on the Giants’ practice squad in the same market where he played college ball and grew up (he’s from Monroe, Ct.).

“I’ve bounced around a little bit,” he said in the Giants’ locker room on Wednesday, just a few minutes after actually signing his contract.

Fenaroli said he was surprised to get a call from the Giants since he worked out for them two weeks ago during the team’s bye and hadn’t heard back. “A little bit of a shock,” he said. “I’m glad they gave me a call back. You never know what they’re thinking.”

The Giants had an opening for a practice squad offensive lineman because Sean Locklear suffered a knee injury on Monday against the Redskins and on Wednesday was placed on injured reserve. They promoted Selvish Capers from the practice squad to the 53-man roster to take Locklear’s place, and then signed Fenaroli to take Capers’ place. He’s wearing the 62 jersey and was on the field with the team for Wednesday’s practice.

Of course Fenaroli wanted to talk a little Seawolves football. He said he was disappointed that the team lost to Montana State, but he was at the home playoff win against Villanova. “So that’s good,” he said. As for Stony Brook’s star player this year, Miguel Maysonet, Fenaroli said he will “definitely” be able to play in the NFL. “He’s going to win the Walter Payton Award,” Fenaroli boasted.

As for his place on the Giants, Fenaroli said he can play both guard and center. The Giants are a little thin at tackle, though. At 6-3 and 310 pounds, can he possibly find a way to slide outside if needed?

“No,” Fenaroli said. It turns out that he’s unlike his path to the team. “Too short.”

Goodman's big night propels women's hoops by Sacred Heart

Junior racks up 19 points and 16 rebounds in 51-46 victory

Final Stats

Stony Brook, N.Y. -  Junior Chikilra Goodman (Philadelphia, Pa.) posted a career day with 19 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Stony Brook women's basketball team to a 51-46 win over Sacred Heart on Tuesday at Pritchard Gym. 

Coach's Reaction

"This was a great program win for us. One of the things we were most excited about was our mental toughness tonight. They are a very good team and they are very well coached, but we bounced back in the second half and did a great job defensively and on the glass."

--Head Coach Beth O'Boyle

Turning Point

• After Sacred Heart (4-4) took a 26-21 lead into the half, the Seawolves (4-3) opened the second stanza on an 15-0 run to pull ahead 36-26 with 14:30 to play. The Pioneers then responded with a 14-4 run of their own to tie the score at 40-40 with six minutes left.
  
  The teams promptly traded leads until the 3:00 mark, before a big three-pointer from sophomore Sabre Proctor (Harrisburg, Pa.) put Stony Brook ahead by four at 47-43. The Seawolves never relinquished the advantage and held on for the victory.

The Numbers Game

• Stony Brook outrebounded the Pioneers by a 50-29 margin, marking the second game this season that the Seawolves have pulled down 50 boards (Morgan St.).
• Stony Brook shot 37% from the field (17-for-46), led by Goodman's 8-for-10 effort.
• The Seawolves held SHU to just 29.5% shooting (18-for-61) overall and 23.1% from downtown (6-for-26).
• Goodman (19 points) and Proctor (15 points) accounted for 67% of the Seawolves' offense (34 of 51 points).
• Senior Jessica Previlon (Brooklyn, N.Y.) ripped down 13 rebounds to go along with six points and four assists.
• Stony Brook made 14-of-19 free throws (73.7%), compared to just 4-of-9 for SHU (44.4%).
• The Seawolves won in spite of 26 turnovers, a new season high.
• Stony Brook opened the first half on a 6-0 run and the second half on a 15-0 run.
• Ericka Norman posted an impressive stat line for the visitors with eight points, seven assists and 10 steals.

News & Notes

• Goodman's 16 rebounds are the most in a single game since Kirsten Jeter's 16 boards against Boston University on Jan. 13, 2010.
• Previlon's 13 rebounds tied a career high set earlier this season against Morgan State. The senior had 10 boards in the first half, including four on the offensive glass.
• Stony Brook is now 4-0 this season when allowing fewer than 60 points in a game.
• The Seawolves won their fourth game of the year on Tuesday, matching last season's win total after just seven games.
• Sacred Heart entered the game ranked No. 24 in the Women's Mid-Major Top-25 according to CollegeInsider.com. Stony Brook has now beaten two teams that are either ranked in the poll or receiving votes (Navy).
   

Up Next

The Seawolves will head to the Bronx, N.Y. to face Fordham on Saturday at 2 p.m