Stony Brook, N.Y. - Coming off its best season in its ten year Division I history, the Stony Brook University men's basketball team kicks off the 2009-10 season on Friday night, traveling to take on the Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. Friday's contest will air locally on WUSB 90.1 FM and goseawolves.org with Curt Hylton announcing. The game can also be followed via gametracker at goseawolves.org.
The 2008-09 season saw Stony Brook finish 16-14 overall and 8-8 in the America East Conference, tying for fourth-place in the final regular season conference standings, the Seawolves best-ever America East Conference finish. The 16 overall wins and eight conference victories were the most for Stony Brook in its eight years as a member of the America East Conference.
Stony Brook head coach Steve Pikiell brings back a wealth of experience from that squad as he returns nine letterwinners including four starters. The group of returning starters is led by 2009 America East all conference second team selection Muhammad El-Amin (Lansing, Mich.). The 6-5 senior guard ranked seventh in the America East in scoring last season (15.7 points per game).
El-Amin was selected to the preseason all-conference team for the Seawolves, who were picked fourth in America East preseason coaches poll. It was the highest ever preseason ranking for Stony Brook.
Stony Brook also brings back a talented quartet of sophomores that set numerous program records last season. Tommy Brenton (Columbia, Md.) and Bryan Dougher (Scotch Plains, N.J.) were both named to the America East All-Rookie team, the first time in program history that two players have been named All-Rookie.
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Brenton, Dougher and Danny Carter (London England) also combined to win the America East Rookie of the Week award seven times, the first time in program history that three different players have won the honor in the same season. Dougher and freshman Dallis Joyner (Norfolk, Va.) were two of just 20 freshmen in the country to start every game.
Joining the returners is perhaps the best recruiting class in the program's history as Pikiell welcomes four freshmen - swingman Preye Preboye (Springfield, Mass), shooting guard Lenny Hayes (Voorhees, N.J.), forward Eric McAlister (Hightstown, N.J.) and guard Marcus Rouse (Upper Marlboro, Md.)- as well as a transfer Patrick Dame (West Greenwich, R.I.) to his squad. The size, athleticism and versatility of the newcomers will give them a chance to contribute right away.
SBU will begin its season by playing eight of its first 11 games on the road. Pikiell's squad proved to be a formidable opponent on the road last season, winning a program record nine games away from home, including victories over Air Force and defending conference champion UMBC.
The Seawolves will once again count on a defense that was a major reason for their success last season. In 2008-09, SBU led the America East in scoring defense (60.4 ppg), three-point field goal defense (.309), steals per game (8.8) and turnover margin (+2.8). The scoring defense and three-point field goal defense mark ranked 31st and 30th in the country, respectively, with the steals per game ranking 25th.
Friday's game will mark the fourth season in a row that SBU has taken on Maryland-Eastern Shore. Stony Brook defeated the Hawks 60-44 last year at Pritchard Gymnasium after falling to the host Hawks 53-52 the previous season. Maryland-Eastern Shore is led by senior Neil Pitt, who was named to the All-MEAC preseason first team. Pitt averaged 16.0 points and 8.1 rebounds per game for the Hawks last season on his way to earning a spot on the All-MEAC second team.
Click Here to view the complete 2009-10 Stony Brook Men's Basketball Media Guide.
All Stony Brook men's basketball season ticket packages as well individual game tickets, excluding Albany and Binghamton, are now on sale and can be purchased at the Stony Brook University ticket office, by phone at 631-632-WOLF or online at www.goseawolves.org. The athletic ticket office is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and is located in the left corner of the atrium in Stony Brook Arena. Fans can also reach the ticket office by email at SeawolvesTickets@StonyBrook.edu.
