Men's hoops defense stifles Albany in 65-49 win

Final Stats

Albany, N.Y. - The Stony Brook men's basketball defense held Albany to just 20 second-half points, and four players scored in double figures as the Seawolves handled the Great Danes 65-49 Tuesday night at SEFCU Arena to improve to 16-5 overall and 7-1 in America East.

Stony Brook, which earned its nation-leading ninth true road win of the year, held the Great Danes to 35.4 percent shooting for the game and 23.8 percent in the second half. Albany had just five field goals in the second half.

Junior Anthony Jackson (Columbus, Ohio) led the Seawolves with 14 points, including a team-high nine in the second half. Freshman Jameel Warneyposted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Tommy Brenton (Columbia, Md.) and sophomore Anthony Mayo (Philadelphia, Pa.) also had 10 points.

Coach Steve Pikiell's Reaction
"I thought we did a good job defending their backcourt tonight. We got back to playing defense the way I want to play. We were fortunate that we played well on both ends and did a good job passing the ball. It's tough to win on the road, but we're happy to get this one and we now have to prepare for two more road games."

Turning Point
Stony Brook opened the second half with good shots and even better defense. The Seawolves went on a 16-4 run for the first 10:45 of the second half. Brenont and Warney got it started with layups and free throws. Then Jackson extended Stony Brook's lead with a three-pointer at 16:52 to make it a 13-point game and then another triple at 10:23 that made it a 16-point lead.

All during the 10:45 stretch, Albany was just 2-for-13 from the field and really could not get any open looks against the tight Stony Brook defense.

Jackson seemingly put the nail in Albany's coffin at the 5:11 mark when he drained another three-pointer to stretch the Seawolves lead to 21, 61-40.

By the Numbers

• Stony Brook outrebounded Albany 33-27.
• The Seawolves shot 50.9% for the game, the fourth time they have eclipsed 50% shooting.
• The five field goals allowed in the second half matches Stony Brook's season low for a half this season.
• With 10 points and 10 rebounds, Warney turned in his third double-double in his last five games.
• Brenton scored in double figures for the sixth consecutive game. He also moved into ninth place in the program's Div. I history in career points. He now has 876.
• Stony Brook is 28-11 all-time when Brenton reached double figures in points.
• Brenton grabbed seven rebounds and surpassed Northeastern's Dan Callahan for seventh in America East history in career rebounds.
• Mayo matched his career high with 10 points.

News & Notes

• Stony Brook has the most true road wins in the country with nine. The nine road wins also matches the program's Div. I high, previously set by the 2009-10 and 2008-09 teams.
• The Seawolves are now off to their best 21-game start in their Div. I history at 16-5. They have also matched last season's team for best eight-game start to the conference schedule at 7-1.
• Stony Brook is now 25-4 in its last 29 conference games dating back to February 2011.
• The Seawolves are 12-0 this season and 72-18 in the Pikiell era when holding their opponents under 60 points.

Up Next
Stony Brook continues is stretch of three straight road games Saturday at New Hampshire at 4 p.m.

2012 College World Series Ring Ceremony 1/26/13

2012 College World Series Ring Ceremony 1/26/13

 Photo Gallery

Stony Brook, N.Y. - The Stony Brook Baseball team put a cap on a dream 2012 season that featured its "Shock the World" run to the College World Series by coming back together to receive its championship rings in a ceremony held at the Wang Center last Saturday.

With alumni and family in attendance, Director of Athletics Jim Fiore and head coach Matt Senk presented the Seawolves their rings and replica College World Series trophies. In addition, New York State Congressman Tim Bishop presented each member of the team a Congressional Resolution celebrating Stony Brook's achievement.

After the ceremony, the team was then honored honored during the Stony Brook men's basketball game vs. Maine at Pritchard Gymnasium and signed autographs for fans postage.

After winning the America East championship, the Seawolves upended Miami (FL), Missouri State and Central Florida to win the Coral Gables Regional and advance to the Baton Rouge Super Regional against six-time national champion, LSU. The Tigers took game one, but Stony Brook bounced back to win games two and three to shock the world and advance to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.

The Seawolves capped the 2012 campaign with 52 wins, a program record, and laid claim to being the first-ever America East team and first Northeast Region team since 1986 to reach the College World Series. Head coach Matt Senk was named the National Collegiate Basetball Writers Association (NCBWA) National Coach of the Year, and outfielder Travis Jankowski was named the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) National Co-Player of the Year.

Stony Brook will return 16 letterwinners from its College World Series team in 2013, including 2012 freshmen All-Americans Kevin Krause and Cole Peragine and star pitchers Brandon McNitt and Frankie Vanderka. Spring training is underway in preparation for the 2013 opener at Florida International on Friday, Feb. 15.

Tommy Brenton, Eric McAlister carry high-flying Stony Brook past Maine, 79-69

By GREG LOGAN  greg.logan@newsday.com

Seldom, if ever, has the term "high flyers" been associated with Stony Brook's defense-oriented style of basketball. But a fourth straight sellout crowd at Pritchard Gym was treated to an array of above-the-rim acrobatics courtesy of Tommy Brenton and Eric McAlister in the Seawolves' 79-69 victory over Maine Saturday afternoon.

Brenton recorded Stony Brook's first triple-double (15 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists) since the move to Division I in 1999, and redshirt freshman McAlister scored a career-high 22 points. He shot 8-for-11, making both three-pointers he attempted.

But Brenton and McAlister were most effective as a passing combination as the Seawolves (15-5, 6-1 America East) scored on seven dunks or alley-oop plays, with McAlister recording five of those baskets and Brenton assisting on five.

It came as part of an impressive offensive display in which Stony Brook finished with five players in double figures, including Dave Coley (13 points), Marcus Rouse (11) and Anthony Jackson (10). Jameel Warney added 11 rebounds.

Maine (8-12, 3-4) was led by Zarko Valjarevic, who shot 7-for-12 from three-point range for his 21 points, and Justin Edwards, who had 19 points, 13 rebounds and five assists but missed 10 of 14 free throws.

Brenton became the eighth player in America East history to reach the 1,000 career rebounding mark with his 11th of the game, but he took the most satisfaction from his triple-double. "It's huge," he said. "I didn't know I was close until there were about five minutes left."

Needing only two assists to achieve the triple-double, Brenton's timing could not have been better. A 19-point Stony Brook had dwindled to eight at 61-53 when Brenton worked his way into the middle of the Black Bears' 2-3 zone defense to feed McAlister and Warney for dunks on consecutive possessions to restore a 65-53 cushion with 4:14 left.

"I'm always looking to go inside," Brenton said. "They played zone, and I knew I had opportunities to go in the middle and read and react. It helped to have these high flyers around me."

Warney has been Stony Brook's most effective low-post presence, but the freshman, limited by a sore knee, was scoreless in the first half, attempting only one field goal. It didn't matter because McAlister got going early, hitting a top-of-the-key jumper and a three-pointer. After Brenton threw an alley-oop pass to Scott King for a highlight-reel dunk and an 18-7 lead, McAlister got into the alley-oop act, dunking for a 25-12 advantage.

But the 6-8 McAlister saved his best for the second half, scoring three straight baskets with two dunks and an over-the-head layup off an alley-oop pass from Brenton to give Stony Brook its biggest lead at 44-25.

"I'm just trying to contribute more to the team and play with as much energy as I can," said McAlister, whose previous high was 12 points. "I got some good looks, so I took them. When you make your first couple shots, it gives you a lot more confidence to shoot the next one."

Stony Brook coach Steve Pikiell said Brenton was the key to the offense with his play as a "point forward" breaking down Maine's zone, but he seemed especially encouraged by McAlister's improvement.

"Eric has been awesome in practice," Pikiell said. "He's been dominant. The way he played today is how he's been practicing. He took it to another level today, which was great."

Men's hoops picks up another road win, beats UMBC 67-60

BALTIMORE - Junior Dave Coley (Brooklyn, N.Y.) scored a game-high 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds, and the Stony Brook men's basketball team held UMBC to 34.8 percent shooting as the Seawolves came away with a 67-60 road victory over the Retrievers Wednesday night at RAC Arena.

The win gives Stony Brook its sixth victory in its last seven games and gives the team its eighth true road win of the season, which is tied for the most in the country. Now at 14-5 overall and 5-1 in America East, the Seawolves have reclaimed first place in the conference, a half game ahead of Vermont and Albany.

Senior Tommy Brenton (Columbia, Md.), playing near his hometown, had 12 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Coach Steve Pikiell's Reaction
"Tonight we had to grind out a road victory against an improved UMBC team. We have to get better, and we have to prepare for a good Maine team on Saturday."

Turning Point
Despite the close score, Stony Brook never trailed in the game, thanks in large part to opening the contest on a 16-4 run that included holding UMBC to 1-of-14 shooting.

UMBC could never get it to one possession. The Retrievers cut the deficit to four to open the second half, but the Seawolves scored the next six points to make it a 10-point lead again.

Late in the game, UMBC used three-pointers to once again get within four, 64-60, but the Seawolves hit seven of 10 free throws in the final minute to seal the victory.

By the Numbers

• Stony Brook shot 42.0% for the game and 45.5% from three-point range. The Seawolves also made 20 of 26 free throw attempts for 76.9%.
• The Seawolves held UMBC to 34.8% shooting.
• Stony Brook outrebounded the Retrievers 42-34, the 36th time in its last 43 games the team has grabbed more caroms than its opponent.
• Coley has reached double-figure scoring in four straight games and has gone for 15 or more points in all four of them.
• Brenton moved to within just 11 rebounds of 1,000 for his career.
• Five Seawolves scored at least nine points, including Coley, Brenton, freshman Carson Puriefoy (Wenonah, N.J.) (10), junior Eric McAlister(Hightstown, N.J.) (9) and freshman Jameel Warney (Plainfield, N.J.) (9).
• Warney set a career high with four assists.
• Stony Brook made seven of 10 free throws in the final two minutes and is now shooting 81.8% for the season in that scenari

Women's hoops rallies, falls to UMBC, 70-59...at Maine on Saturday afternoon...

Baltimore, Md. - Chikilra Goodman led SBU with 15 points and dished out three assists, while Sabre Proctor scored 10 points and finished tied for a game-high eight rebounds, but the Stony Brook women’s basketball team fell on the road to UMBC, 70-59. The game was streamed live on ESPN3.com.

Klupenger tallied 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting as the Seawolves dropped to 11-8 overall and 3-3 in the America East.

Brittany Crowell posted a game-best 25 points, while Raven Harris tallied 17 points for UMBC (6-13, 2-4 AE).

Coach’s Reaction

“I think we had great team intensity, especially in the second half. Unfortunately, we started the first half slow and had to keep grinding to get back into the game.”

--Head Coach Beth O’Boyle

Turning Point

Goodman drove inside for a lay-up to bring the Seawolves within seven, 37-30, but Crowell responded with a 3-point field goal and a jumper to help the Retrievers open up a 42-30 lead with 15:51 to play.

Trailing 47-32, the largest deficit SBU faced all game; the guests began to mount a comeback. Teasha Harris tallied a point in the paint and Klupenger nailed a jump shot to close the gap to 11, 47-36, with 11 minutes left on the clock. A lay-up by Proctor exactly one minute later made it a single-digit ball game, 47-38.

Goodman tallied a free throw, then stole the ball from Kim Browning and raced down the court for a basket in transition to cut the deficit to six at the 7:52 mark and force UMBC to call a timeout.

The Retrievers scored the next six points, capped off with a lay-up by Ashley Lambert, to regain a 53-41 lead with 6:46 left in the game.

The Seawolves would not go down easily, though. Down 55-44, Klupenger sunk a shot to bring SBU within nine with just under five minutes to play. After Lambert missed on the other end, Proctor laid it in as UMBC’s lead shrunk to seven, 55-48, with 4:23 left. 11 ticks later, Lambert connected on a three-point play after Gerda Gatling fouled the sophomore as she went in for a lay-up.

With 3:11 to play, Harris grabbed the rock from Bria White, who then fouled the Bloomington, Ill., native. Harris hit both her free throws, and Goodman later drove inside for a lay-up as UMBC’s lead dwindled to six once again, 58-52, with 2:21 left. Stony Brook would not get any closer as the Retrievers outscored the Seawolves, 12-7, the rest of the way to secure the home victory.

The Numbers Game

• Stony Brook did not shoot a free throw in the first half. This is the first time all season the Seawolves have not attempted a free throw in the opening stanza and the second time this year that SBU did not take a shot from the charity stripe in a single half. Stony Brook did not attempt a free throw in the second half in a 56-34 rout of Binghamton Jan. 9.
• Klupenger tallied four hoops from inside the arc for the second consecutive game and third time this season. Prior to Saturday’s game against Vermont, the senior had only hit one field goal from inside 3-point territory during the 2013 campaign, in the season opener against Rider on Nov. 9.
• UMBC owned a slight 39-38 edge on the glass. This marked just the sixth time this season Stony Brook has been outrebounded by an opponent.
• With 15 points, Goodman notched double-digits in scoring for the fourth consecutive game.
• Stony Brook’s bench outscored UMBC’s reserves, 19-11.
• SBU owned a 7-6 advantage on second-chance points.
• The Seawolves scored 20 points off turnovers compared to 14 for the Retrievers.
• SBU held a 30-26 edge in the paint.
• The Seawolves shot 36.4 percent (24-for-66) from the field, while the Retrievers owned a 48.1 percent (26-for-54) clip.

News and Notes

• Klupenger nailed a triple with less than seven minutes remaining in the first half to get the Seawolves within six, 19-13. The Aurora, Ore., native is now 11 shy of sinking 100 3-pointers in her career at Stony Brook and sits at fifth on SBU’s all-time career made 3-point field goal list.
• Stony Brook is now 3-6 when trailing at the half.

Up Next

The Seawolves conclude their two-game road swing at Maine Saturday, Jan. 26 at 2 p.m. 

Fernandes selected by Union in MLS Supplemental Draft

MLS Supplemental Draft Tracker

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Stony Brook men's soccer senior midfielder Leonardo Fernandes (North Babylon, N.Y.) has been selected by the Philadelphia Union in the fourth round of the Major League Soccer (MLS) Supplemental Draft. Stony Brook's all-time leader in points scored, Fernandes becomes the second-ever player in the program to be drafted onto an MLS team.

"We are very excited for Leo and his opportunity," Stony Brook head coachRyan Anatol said. "He has earned it. We wish him all the best."

Stony Brook men's soccer's most decorated student-athlete, Fernandes wrapped up his Stony Brook career as the program's all-time leader in points with 79. He also is third in goals (31) and third in assists (17), and he ranks first in the program's Div. I history in each category. 

In 2012 alone, Fernandes led Stony Brook with nine goals and seven assists for 25 points. He netted the game-winning goal in five of Stony Brook's 11 victories.

He is a three-time America East Midfielder of the Year and first-team All-America East recipient. In 2012, he was named Stony Brook men's soccer's first-ever All-American, grabbing second-team honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and third-team honors from College Soccer News. He also previously was named first-team NSCAA All-Northeast Region in 2011 and 2012 and third-team NSCAA All-Northeast Region in 2010.

The Philadelphia Union is managed by John Hackworth. The club finished 10-18-6 in 2012. Training camp for the team opened on Monday in Wayne, Pa. The Union's first regular season game comes March 2 against Sporting KC.

Leonardo Fernandes Career Accolades

• 2013 MLS Supplemental Draft Pick - Philadelphia Union, fourth round
• 2012 NSCAA All-America second team
• 2012 College Soccer News All-America third team
• 2012 NSCAA All-Northeast Region first team
• 2012 Big Apple Soccer Player of the Year
• 2012 America East Midfielder of the Year
• 2012 All-America East first team
• 2012 America East Championship All-Tournament team
• 2011 America East Midfielder of the Year
• 2011 NSCAA All-Northeast Region first team
• 2011 All-America East first team
• 2011 America East Championship Most Outstanding Player
• 2011 America East Championship All-Tournament team
• 2010 America East Midfielder of the Year
• 2010 All-America East first team
• 2009 America East Rookie of the Year
• 2009 All-America East second team
• 2009 America East All-Rookie team

Stony Brook’s women’s team continues its winning ways

By STEVEN MARCUS steven.marcus@newsday.com

Success beckons for the Stony Brook women’s basketball team. The Seawolves are taking a cue from other winning programs at the university and believe that their turn to make a championship run might be on the horizon.
Second-year coach Beth O’Boyle has transformed the team from a winner of only four games into a highly competitive group. A 68-53 victory over visiting Vermont Saturday in an America East Conference game was another building block. Stony Brook (11-7, 3-2) is close to meeting O’Boyle’s initial expectation.
“My goal was how quickly we can get to the top four,” she said of the conference standings. After league-leading Boston University and second- place Albany, Stony Brook is grouped with Vermont (3-2) and Hartford (3-2).
O’Boyle went after transfers and recruits who could have an immediate impact. Freshman forward Brittany Snow, a pre-med major, was sold on her initial visit. “I showed up and just fell in love with it,” said Snow, who is from New Jersey. “I knew they had only come from four wins last year and it was kind of like a building phase. I knew [O’Boyle] had a lot of great ideas. Everyone really is excited for what’s to come.”
Snow was one of four players in double figures against Vermont (6-12), scoring 16 points despite playing most of the game in foul trouble. Stony Brook turned a 32-27 halftime advantage into 19-point lead by scoring the first 14 points of the second half. Vermont closed the gap to 55-51 with 4:07 remaining but the Seawolves quickly got it back to double-digits on layups by Gerda Gatling, Sabre Proctor and Chikilra Goodman. Proctor scored 16 points, Goodman 11 and Jessica Previlon 10.
Proctor, a sophomore forward from Pennsylvania who transferred from North Carolina A&T and practiced with the team last season, said, “Our ultimate goal at the end of the day is to win a championship, and there’s no doubt in my mind that we can do that. We have the talent to do it and it will be done.”
Previlon, a senior guard from Brooklyn, joined the team last season after two years at Monroe College. She said that seeing other teams at the university win championships “makes us feel like if they can do it, we can do it too. We’ve just got to push ourselves. The same way they work hard to get to where they are, we can do that.”
That is what O’Boyle wants to hear.
“When you are at Stony Brook, all the programs win,” she said. “Football does great, baseball unbelievable, men’s basketball. I sell their success. It’s a big part of my recruiting. Those teams are doing well. We’re going to be the next one.”

Stony Brook Baseball Honored at BBWA annual dinner

Stony Brook HC Matt Senk with Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson at the BBWA dinner in NYC tonight...SBU baseball team was honored tonight for the CWS appearance in 2012

Balanced scoring leads women's hoops to 68-53 victory over Vermont

Final Stats



Stony Brook, N.Y. - Brittany Snow and Sabre Proctor netted 16 points and pulled down five boards apiece, while Chikilra Goodman tallied 11 points and seven rebounds as the Stony Brook women's basketball team defeated Vermont, 68-53, Saturday afternoon at Pritchard Gymnasium.
Jessica Previlon notched her sixth double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds for Stony Brook (11-7, 3-2 America East). 
Kayla Burchill led Vermont (6-12, 3-2) with 12 points and Lauren Buschmann 10.
Snow and Burchill were named America East Players of the Game.
Coach's Reaction:
"Overall, we got a lot of scoring from a lot of different players, and that was the big difference."
--Head Coach Beth O'Boyle 
Turning Point:
The Catamounts went cold from the field after Burchill's jumper with 10:49 left in the first half to make it 20-15 SBU, and did not make a bucket until the final seconds of the stanza when Buschmann connected on a lay-up. UVM stuck around by hitting free throws, but Stony Brook led 32-27 at the break, thanks in large part to an 11-point effort from Snow. 
SBU opened the second half strong, scoring 14 unanswered points. With just under 16 minutes remaining, Proctor drove for a bucket to give the Seawolves their biggest lead of the game, 46-27.
Vermont rallied and cut the lead to eight, 51-43, with under nine minutes to play on a three by Burchill, and Gracia Hutson followed with a jumper to close the gap to 51-45 as a back-and-forth contest ensued.
After a pair of missed free throws by Goodman, Hutson committed an offensive foul and Proctor connected on the other end with a reverse lay-up.  Gerda Gatling blocked a shot by Shumpert, and Proctor drove inside for another hoop to give the Seawolves another double-digit lead, 55-45, with 7:12 to play.


Vermont stayed within striking distance as Conley nailed a three to make it a four-point game, 55-51, with 4:07 to play. Stony Brook scored 13 straight points to re-take a 17-point lead as the Seawolves earned their third conference win.
The Numbers Game:

• Snow's 16 points mark a new career-best.
• Klupenger finished with seven points, including one basket from inside the arc. The only other time the senior had hit a shot from inside three-point territory was in the season-opener against Rider on Nov. 9.
• Fouls plagued Vermont for much of the game. The Catamounts committed 13 in the first half and 31 overall, with three players fouling out (Kaylea Britton, Buschmann and Annie Wheeler). Stony Brook went 25-for-35 from the line.  
• The Seawolves outrebounded Vermont, 44-39, and are 10-1 when outrebounding an opponent.

News and Notes:

• Klupenger hit one three and is 12 shy of 100 for her career. She ranks fifth all-time at Stony Brook with 88. 
• At 3-2, Stony Brook has matched its best start in conference play since 2005-06.

Up Next:
Stony Brook hits the road for a pair of games at UMBC and Maine on Jan. 23 and 26 at noon and 2 p.m., respectively. 

Men's hoops can't contain Vermont in 81-73 defeat

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.

Priore's Contract Extended Through 2017

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Stony Brook Director of Athletics Jim Fiore has announced that head football coach Chuck Priore has agreed to a contract extension that will keep him at the helm of the program through 2017. The extension adds a year to Priore's existing contract as he agreed to an extension through the 2016 season in February 2011.

A 2012 finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award, given to the top head coach in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Priore has guided the Seawolves to back-to-back appearances in the Division I Football Championship.

"Coach Priore has impressively led the Stony Brook football program to FCS prominence in a short period of time," Fiore said. "That success has been evident in all facets - - on-field results, our academic culture, player development, recruiting and community service. Coach Priore has positioned our program for future success as we move into the Colonial Athletic Association, which is widely though of as the nation's most prominent FCS conference."

Priore's offense has produced two 1,000-yard rushers in each of the last three seasons, including Miguel Maysonet, who earned numerous All-America honors and finished second in the Walter Payton Award voting.

Stony Brook earned its first Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) win in 2012, beating Army, 23-3, before a nationally-televised audience.

Excluding 2007, when Stony Brook competed as an independent, Priore, who is 47-34 in seven years at SBU and 86-40 overall, has led the Seawolves to at least a share of a conference title in five of six seasons. In the last five years, the Seawolves posted a Big South Conference record of 24-5, losing only once at home.

Stony Brook's success in the classroom has produced more than 80 Big South Presidential Honor Roll selections, including quarterback Kyle Essington, a two-time All-Academic conference honoree. For achieving the highest Academic Progress Rate (APR) in the Big South in 2011-12, the Seawolves garnered an award from the FCS Athletics Directors Association. 

"I'm very grateful to Jim Fiore and President Stanley for their commitment to building a championship-level football program," Priore said. "I'm excited to continue working at a world-class institution like Stony Brook, and my staff and I look forward to recruiting and leading quality student-athletes this university can be proud of."

Stony Brook taps Coley Pawlikowski to be head volleyball coach

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Stony Brook University Director of Athletics Jim Fiore has named former Wisconsin assistant coach Coley Pawlikowski as the new Seawolves volleyball head coach. A rising star in the collegiate volleyball coaching ranks and a tenacious recruiter of student-athletes, Pawlikowski is a three-time recipient of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Thirty Under 30 award. “We are thrilled to have found a head volleyball coach who has an incredible amount of energy, embodies our five descriptive words - commitment, passion, pride, respect, swagger - and is constantly motivated to achieve success,” Fiore said. “Coach Pawlikowski is one of collegiate volleyball’s rising coaching stars, and she’s proven that she can recruit at the highest level. Her attributes and her vision will help our volleyball program become an annual contender for the America East Championship and beyond.” Pawlikowski spent 2012 as the top assistant coach at Wisconsin, serving as recruiting coordinator and working as the defensive position coach. She assisted in the continued recruitment and commitment of the No. 1 recruit in the entire nation, as ranked by PrepVolleyball.com, for their Class of 2013. She also was responsible for seeking out and signing a 2013 Under Armour High School All-American, one of three high school All-Americans that UW secured for 2013. Her on-court work helped Wisconsin lead the Big Ten in digs per set as a team and boast the individual digs champion, Annmarie Hickey, who averaged 4.93 digs per set. Pawlikowski also served as Wisconsin’s academic and strength & conditioning liaison, assisting camp director, assistant scheduling coordinator and represented the team in post home match radio interviews. “I am extremely excited and thankful towards Jim Fiore, his administrative team, the search committee and entire Stony Brook community for the opportunity to coach at one of the premier institutions in the country,” Pawlikowski said. “I was truly drawn to the support, commitment and passion from the department and know this will be an incredible partnership for many years to come. Stony Brook Athletics has made monumental strides nationally over the past several years, and our best days are still to come. I am thrilled to now be a part of the upward trajectory and assist the women’s volleyball program to attain our goals.” “I am excited for the challenge of continuing to build Stony Brook Volleyball and add to the strong foundation in place as we work towards becoming a championship contender in the America East Conference. Most importantly, I look forward to connecting with my players, assisting them towards reaching their goals on and off the court and serving as a strong role model.” Prior to the one season at Wisconsin, Pawlikowski was the top assistant coach at her alma mater Northern Illinois from 2009-12, where she helped lead the Huskies to the 2011 Mid-American Conference (MAC) regular season championship and an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament. The Huskies went 14-2 in the MAC and 28-7 overall, which included a 15-match winning streak. At Northern Illinois, Pawlikowski was the program’s recruiting coordinator and was responsible for the recruitment of Lauren Wicinski, NIU’s first-ever high school All-American recruit who went on to become the first-ever simultaneous MAC Player and Rookie of the Year in 2010 and two-time All-American. In addition to successfully building a national recruiting base, Pawlikowski also served as the team’s defensive position coach, fundraising coordinator, assistant camp director and alumni liaison. As defensive position coach, she mentored Maddie Hughes, who went on to become the 2009 MAC Defensive Player of the Year. Not only did Pawlikowski have a successful run as a Div. I assistant coach, but she also has head coaching experience at the Div. III level, having served as head coach at North Park University in Chicago for three seasons. At North Park, she handled all aspects of the program, including recruiting, training, scheduling, budgets, equipment and academics, turning a program around that was 6-26 the year before she was hired to 19-12 in her final season. She earned her first AVCA Thirty Under 30 award for her efforts in turning the North Park program around. Pawlikowski also has over a decade of experience working club volleyball. She was club administrator/head coach for the Kane County Jrs. VBS in Batavia, Ill., where she was responsible for recruiting, scheduling and hiring. Pawlikowski played three seasons at Northern Illinois, where she was a three-year defensive specialist starter and helped the Huskies win the 2001 MAC title and advance to the NCAA Tournament. After leaving Northern Illinois due to medical hardship, she played her final year of eligibility at Aurora University in Aurora, Ill., captaining the 2003 team and earning All-Conference and Team MVP honors. Pawlikowski then returned to Northern Illinois, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies in 2004. What They Are Saying about Coley Pawlikowski... “I look for great things in the future of Stony Brook volleyball with the hiring of Coley Pawlikowski as head coach. I have admired her enthusiasm and passion for the game since she was a player and know that her experiences have prepared her to make a big splash in America East.” - Russ Rose, Head Volleyball Coach at Penn State University “Coley will do a great job at Stony Brook. She has an amazing energy level that is only matched by her work ethic and passion for women’s volleyball. She will be a tremendous motivator and will find ways to get the most out of the student-athletes she coaches. She has great connections nationally and will make a significant impact on recruiting. Most importantly, Coley is committed to providing the total student-athlete experience and will be genuinely interested in the academic, athletic and social success of her student-athletes.” - Christian Spears, Deputy Director of Athletics at Northern Illinois “I have known Coley since I recruited her and have watched her grow up. She is one of the great up-and-coming young coaches in the nation. Coley will have great success at Stony Brook and will make it a championship program. She has a competitive edge that separates her from most people.” - Robby Pulliza, Head Volleyball Coach at the University of Arkansas “Coley is truly one of the great up and coming young coaches in the country. I think she will do a great job and bring a lot of excitement to the community of Stony Brook volleyball.” - Pete Waite, Former Head Volleyball Coach at the University of Wisconsin (14 years) “I am extremely excited for Coley as well as Stony Brook. Coley has worked hard to prepare herself for her first Div. I head coaching opportunity, and I am confident she will do a great job! She has had great success throughout her career, and I have complete confidence that she will bring that level of success to Stony Brook.” - Mark Rosen, Head Volleyball Coach at University of Michigan “Coley sees potential in people. When she recruited me, I had only played in high school, and a lot of people did not believe in me. She did, and she taught me everything about being a libero. Coley is an energetic person who does not give up on people.” - Amber Walker, played volleyball for Pawlikowski at North Park University and Northern Illinois University. Named All-MAC in 2011.

Dave Coley's offense, defense leads SBU past Boston U.

By GREG LOGAN  greg.logan@newsday.com

With 4:02 left in the first half, Boston University's Travis Robinson knocked down a three-pointer to cut Stony Brook's lead to three points. The Terriers' next field goal by Dom Morris came with 11:17 left in the game, a span of 12:45 between BU baskets.

By that time, the Seawolves had a 23-point lead on their way to a 75-48 America East victory Tuesday night at sold-out Pritchard Gymnasium. Coach Steve Pikiell's defense held BU to 30.9 percent shooting and forced the Terriers' three-guard backcourt into a 7-for-29 night from the field, including 2-for-11 from leading scorer D.J. Irving, who totaled only six points.

And still, that wasn't enough for the Stony Brook coach. "I wanted it to be 15 minutes," Pikiell said of BU's field-goal drought. "When we're locked in, we're a good defensive team. I appreciate that. The guys off the bench are playing good defense, too. The other day, we played 32 good minutes , and today we played a few more."

Stony Brook (13-4, 4-0 America East) held BU (8-10, 2-3) to 23.3 percent shooting in the second half. The only Terrier to reach double figures was Dom Morris with 11 points.

The Seawolves led by as much as 34 points. They got double-doubles from Jameel Warney (12 points, 14 rebounds) and Tommy Brenton (12. 10, 4 assists), and guard Dave Coley tied his career-high with 21 points, making his last seven field-goal attempts. He added four steals and was responsible for shutting down Irving.

"I wanted to make it tough for him," Coley said of Irving. "He's one of the best guards in the league. Our plan was to make him finish around the rim. I was able to stay attached and chase him around and not give him any easy looks."

Irving's first basket gave the Terriers their biggest lead at 11-4. But Brenton scored on a layup then forced a turnover, leading to a Warney layup and then hit a three-pointer during a 14-0 Stony Brook run for an 18-11 lead.

"I was definitely trying to start off aggressive to get myself in the game, and transition is always a big factor in our offense," Brenton said.

Some of the toughest losses of Brenton's career have come against BU, so beating the Terriers by such a large margin was as sweet as it was shocking. "It's definitely big," Brenton said. "We'll celebrate tonight, but the coaches will give us enough film for Vermont [on Friday] to last us."

Brenton steals the show in men's hoops win over Hartford

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Four members of the Stony Brook men's basketball team scored at least 15 points, including senior Tommy Brenton (Columbia, Md.), who had 16 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals to lead the Seawolves to a 73-59 win over Hartford Saturday at sold-out Pritchard Gymnasium.

The Seawolves, off to their best 16-game start in their Div. I history, have now won four straight games and eight of their last 10 and improve to 12-4 overall and 3-0 in America East, good for sole possession of first place in the conference. The team defeated Hartford for the ninth straight time, dating back to the 2008-09 season.

Freshman Jameel Warney (Plainfield, N.J.) led the team with 17 points, junior Dave Coley (Brooklyn, N.Y.) added 16 points and nine rebounds and freshman Carson Puriefoy (Wenonah, N.J.) produced a career-high 15 points.

Coach Steve Pikiell's Reaction
"It was a good win for us at home today. We had great community support; the crowd was phenomenal. I thought we played really well for 32 minutes against a good Hartford team. I liked our defense and I liked how we spread the ball around with four different guys in double digit scoring."

Turning Point
It was all Stony Brook in this game as they led from the 15:16 mark of the first half to the end. Coley ignited a 12-0 Seawolves run with a steal and fastbreak dunk. Then it was the Brenton show as he poured in nine points in a six minute span, including an acrobatic layup, foul and three-point play after a steal at the 8:04 mark that put Stony Brook on top 24-10.

The Seawolves shot 63.6 percent in the first half on their way to a 19-point halftime lead, 37-18, and never looked back.

By the Numbers

• Stony Brook outshot Hartford for the game, 57.1% to 36.7%. SB's shooting percentage was a season high. The Seawolves excelled at getting to the free throw line, going 22-for-34 compared to Hartford's 7-for-9.
• The Seawolves outrebounded the Hawks 38-27, the 33rd time in their last 40 games they have grabbed more caroms their opponent.
• The Seawolves blocked seven shots, which matches their season high as a team.
• Brenton's 16 points were a season high and just two shy of his career high. His second of three steals today pushed him past Yves Simon (1987-91) for first place all-time in program history in steals. He now has 197.
• Warney posted at least 16 points for the seventh time this season. He also blocked two shots, giving him a block in all but one game this season and nine consecutive games.
• Coley's nine rebounds were a season high. He has 25 career games of five rebounds or more at the guard position. He also blocked a career-high two shots.
• Puriefoy set career highs for points (15), assists (3) and minutes played (31).
• Sophomore Anthony Mayo (Philadelphia, Pa.) surpassed Brenton on the team's Div. I career blocks leaderboard. With three rejections today, he now has 46 for his career.

News & Notes

• With a 12-4 record, Stony Brook is off to its best 16-game start in its Div. I history, surpassing the 2009-10 team's 11-5 record.
• Stony Brook is now 3-0 in America East for the second consecutive season. SB is also 21-3 in its last 24 conference games.
• The Seawolves are now 10-0 this season and 70-18 in the Pikiell era when holding their opponent under 60 points.
• The Seawolves have won 12 straight home conference games, dating back to February 2011. Stony Brook is now 43-16 (.729) at Pritchard Gymnasium since moving back into the facility for the 2008-09 season.
• This was the second consecutive sellout at Pritchard Gymnasium.
• Brenton was named America East Player of the Game.

Up Next
The Seawolves will square off with Boston University Tuesday at Pritchard Gymnasium at 7 p.m. The game will be streamed online live through ESPN3. For tickets, please call (631) 632-WOLF.

Men/Women beat Binghamton in America East clashes..

Vestal, N.Y. - The Stony Brook men's basketball team held Binghamton to a season-low 26.4 percent shooting while exploding on offense in the second half with a 30-7 run to come away with a 62-37 victory over the Bearcats Wednesday at the Events Center.

Freshman Jameel Warney (Plainfield, N.J.) led all scorers with 13 points. He added eight rebounds and three blocks. Seniors Marcus Rouse (Upper Marlboro, Md.) and Leonard Hayes (Voorhees, N.J.) added 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Stony Brook has won three straight and is now 11-4 overall, 2-0 in America East as it is off to its best 15-game start in its Div. I history.

Coach Steve Pikiell's Reaction

"I really liked our defense tonight. We held them to their season low for points. Our offense didn't make shots early on, but I knew we would get enough baskets to win the game as long as kept playing good defense. It was a good road win - our seventh - and now it's time to prepare for Hartford."

Turning Point

The Seawolves defense had held Binghamton to just 14 points in the first half, but their offense struggled to find any rhythm…until the second half. Leading 31-24, the Seawolves exploded for a 30-7 run to safely put the game away. Rouse and junior Dave Coley (Brooklyn, N.Y.) jumpstarted the rally with back-to-back three-pointers; Coley's three came on a kick-out pass in transition that made the score 40-26.

Rouse hit another three to make it 45-26, and then Warney and Brenton each completed three-point plays after layups to run the score up to 51-28. The run was complete when freshman Carson Puriefoy connected on a layup in transition to make it 61-31 Seawolves, leaving the Bearcats stunned.

By the Numbers

• Stony Brook's defense held Binghamton to 26.4% shooting, a season low for the Bearcats and a season low a Seawolves opponent. The 37 points and 14 field goals allowed were also season lows by an opponent.
• The Seawolves rebounded from a 26.7% first-half shooting effort to shoot 48.3% in the second half.
• Stony Brook outrebounded Binghamton 40-39, the 32nd time in its last 39 games it has outrebounded its opponent.
• The Seawolves committed just eight turnovers.
• Senior Tommy Brenton (Columbia, Md.) had eight rebounds and five assists. The America East leader in assists, it's the 10th time this season he's recorded five or more assists in a game.
• Rouse grabbed a career-high seven rebounds.
• SB connected on 10 three-pointers for the second time this season (Eastern Illinois, Dec. 1).
• Stony Brook outscored Binghamton in the paint 18-4.

News & Notes

• With an 11-4 record, Stony Brook is off to its best 15-game start in its Div. I history, surpassing the 2009-10 team's 10-5 record.
• The Seawolves picked up their seventh true road victory of the season, which leads the nation. Stony Brook only had seven road wins all of last season.
• Stony Brook is now 2-0 in America East for the second consecutive season and third time in the last four seasons. SB is also 20-3 in its last 23 conference games.
• The Seawolves are now 9-0 this season and 69-18 in the Pikiell era when holding their opponent under 60 points.
• The program is now 30-25 all-time against Binghamton and has won five straight in the series, including two straight on the road.
• Rouse was named America East Player of the Game.

Stony Brook -

Chikilra Goodman lead all scorers with 16 points, while Jessica Previlon andBrittany Snow added 10 apiece as the Stony Brook women’s basketball team toppled Binghamton, 56-34, Wednesday night at Pritchard Gymnasium. Previlon also pulled down a game-best 10 boards, as Stony Brook moved to 10-6 overall and 2-1 in the America East with the win that was televised locally on Optimum Channel 118.

Goodman was named the America East Player of the Game.

Coach’s Reaction

“It was a great team effort from start to finish. I thought the defense was able to set the tone early, and I was excited about the contributions we received from multiple players.”

--Head Coach Beth O’Boyle

Turning Point

Kim Albrecht hit a three pointer to bring Binghamton (2-14, 1-2 AE) to within one, 11-10, with 11:44 remaining in the first half. The Seawolves responded with a 14-0 run over the next six minutes and 45 seconds, beginning with a Snow jumper at the 11:26 mark, to take a commanding lead, 25-11, they would never relinquish.

The Numbers Game

• Stony Brook and Binghamton scored the same number of points in both halves, tallying 35 and 18, respectively.
• The Seawolves held Binghamton to 21.8 percent shooting (12-for-55) for the game, and 21.7 percent (5-for-23) in the first half.
• SBU shot just four free throws, but made three of them. Binghamton shot 63.6 percent from the line (7-for-11).
• Stony Brook won the battle of the boards, 44-39, to move to 9-1 this season when outrebounding an opponent.

News and Notes

• Goodman recorded double-digits in scoring for the second consecutive game. The junior guard posted 18 points in a road win against New Hampshire on Saturday.
• By defeating the Bearcats by 22 points, the Seawolves fell just shy of their largest margin of victory for this season. SBU routed NJIT by 25 points, 59-34, on Nov. 25.
• Dani Klupenger hit a three-pointer to bring her career total to 87. If the senior hits 13 more trifectas, she will become just the fifth Seawolf to make 100 shots from behind the arc in her career.  

Freshman Jameel Warney scores 18 as Stony Brook beats New Hampshire

By Steven Marcus, Newsday

Call it the appeal of Jameel. Stony Brook's Jameel Warney, a 6-8 freshman, continues to impress his coach and teammates, and theSeawolves keep ringing up victories in the best start in their Division I history.

In the first America East Conference game of his career, Warney was a force on both ends Saturday, scoring 18 points and blocking four shots as Stony Brook (10-4, 1-0) took a 65-49 victory over visiting New Hampshire (4-10, 0-2).

Warney shot 7-for-8 from the field and is at 61 percent, which places him in the top 10 in the nation.

"I don't really see myself as a freshman, I see myself as a contributor,'' said Warney, who is from Plainfield, N.J. "The team gave me the summer to be a freshman. Now I'm just really a good contributor on this team on both ends. I've seen everything, so I'm more composed as a player, not forcing anything and letting the game come to me.''

Warney, who is averaging 11.9 points, made it look easy, whether it be a dunk or a bank off the backboard after receiving the ball down low. "The veterans around him know how to get him the ball,'' coach Steve Pikiell said, "and he's really learning how to use his body.''

Case in point: With Stony Brook leading 42-34, Warney took a pass from Tommy Brenton and slammed it through the cylinder. Then Warney took a pass from Marcus Rouse and hit a layup to give the Seawolves a 12-point lead with 10:34 left. New Hampshire never got closer than eight after that.

The Seawolves have won 11 straight regular-season conference games at Pritchard Gymnasium, where the team is 42-16 (.724) since November 2008.

Warney scored eight points as Stony Brook took a 32-22 halftime lead. Freshman Carson Puriefoy, who played 14 first-half minutes when starting point guard Anthony Jackson was removed after two personal fouls, ran the offense like a veteran and scored all nine of his points.

The Seawolves had plenty of contributors off the bench. Rouse had nine points, Leonard Hayes added five points and three assists, and Anthony Mayo blocked two shots.

But Warney stood out. "Our non-conference games really prepared him to play against good post guys, and he's played against all of them,'' Pikiell said.

Warney was guarded for part of the game by 6-10 Chris Pelcher, who finished with four points and six rebounds. Warney went against a 7-footer at Maryland and scored 17 points.

"It's like a whole new dimension, a big offensive presence,'' said senior captain Brenton, who had 12 rebounds and five assists. "He can make post moves. On the defensive end, he's huge. Four blocks today. Both ends of the court, pretty amazing.''

And Warney knows this is just the beginning.

"Right now I think I'm pretty good. I have a long way to get to where I want to be,'' he said, noting that he needs to improve as a post defender and free-throw shooter. "As long as the team is winning, I'm content with that.''

Chikilra Goodman helps Stony Brook rally for win

 Chikilra Goodman scored 14 of her 18 points in the second half as visiting Stony Brook rallied for a 48-44 win over New Hampshire in an America East Conference women's basketball game Saturday.

Goodman scored on a driving layup with 2:48 remaining to give the Seawolves (9-6, 1-1) a 43-41 lead. Brittany Snow hit a mid-range jumper with 2:13 left to extend the lead to 45-41.

Jessica Previlon added 12 points and Snow had eight points and five rebounds for Stony Brook.

New Hampshire (5-9, 0-2) led 28-24 at the half, but Stony Brook held the Wildcats scoreless for the first 6:43 of the second half and took a 31-28 lead.

Stony Brook struggled from the free-throw line, going just 8-for-25. The Seawolves overcame their poor showing at the line with solid defense and held New Hampshire to 26.8 percent shooting.

Stony Brook shot 45 percent from the field.

"That was a very physical team we just competed against, so this was a great win for us in conference on the road," Stony Brook coach Beth O'Boyle said. "They are strong inside, but we battled with them all game and we're really happy to come away with a win today.''