Burlington, Vt. - Freshman Jameel Warney (Plainfield, N.J.) produced his second consecutive double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, but the Stony Brook men's basketball defense allowed Vermont to shoot 50 percent from the field as the Catamounts defeated the Seawolves 81-73 Friday night at Patrick Gymnasium.
The loss snapped Stony Brook's five-game winning streak and dropped them into a tie for second place in America East with a 4-1 record. Despite the loss, the 13-5 Seawolves are off to their best 18-game start in their Div. I history. Vermont is now 5-1 in America East and moves into the first-place spot.
Junior Dave Coley (Brooklyn, N.Y.) also scored 15 points for the Seawolves. Redshirt freshman Scott King (Derry, N.H.) scored a career-high 14 points. Freshman Carson Puriefoy (Wenonah, N.J.) added 11, and senior Tommy Brenton (Columbia, Md.) had 10 points and four assists.
Coach Steve Pikiell's Reaction
"Give credit to Vermont; we're a good defensive team, but they made us look like a poor defensive team. They executed really well."
Turning Point
Vermont controlled the game for the most part, but the Seawolves fought hard to keep it only a five-point game, 32-27, at halftime. In the second half, Vermont used a 12-0 run to build an 18-point lead. The Catamounts were up 55-37 with 10 minutes to play.
Stony Brook fought back with a 10-0 run of its own to get the deficit back into single digits. Eventually, the Seawolves were down by only four, 65-61, with 2:48 to play, thanks in large part to 11 second-half points from King, but the Catamounts held on with free throws and timely defense.
By the Numbers
- Stony Brook shot 42.4% for the game but was just 27.3% (6-for-22) from three-point range. Vermont shot 50% (26-for-52) for the game.
- Vermont had 27 free throw attempts in the second half alone. In total, UVM was 25-for-31 from the charity stripe. Stony Brook was 17-for-20.
- Stony Brook outrebounded Vermont 33-31 and grabbed 14 offensive rebounds that led to 21 second chance points.
- Vermont converted 14 SB turnovers into 18 points.
- Warney's double-double was the third of his career.
- King's 14 points were a career high.
News & Notes
- The Seawolves at 13-5 are still off to their best-ever start in their Div. I history. The 4-1 America East record also matches their best five-game conference start.
- This was the most points Stony Brook has allowed in a game since its 2011-12 season opener at Indiana (96), a span of 48 games.
- This is also Stony Brook's most points allowed in a conference game since allowing 99 to Boston University in a four-overtime game on Jan. 19, 2009, a span of 63 conference games.
- Stony Brook trailed at halftime for just the third time this season.
- Warney was named America East Player of the Game.
Up Next
Stony Brook will hit the road once more next Wednesday when it plays at UMBC at 7 p.m.
