Optimum News 12 Newsday.com MSG Varsity Explore LI AM New York Optimum Autos Optimum Homes

On campus

News, thoughts and more from the world of college sports across the nation and Long Island.

Steve Pikiell’s NCAA quest continues

Stony Brook head coach Steve Pikiell looks on

Photo credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke

Over the past four seasons, no one in America East has been better or more consistent in the regular season than Steve Pikiell’s Stony Brook Seawolves. You could look it up.

SBU and Vermont each are 49-15 in the conference during that span, but the Seawolves won three outright titles to one for the Catamounts. The conference tournament and the battle for the automatic NCAA bid, however, is...

Read more »

Stony Brook in Albany lion’s den for AE semis

Stony Brook forward Tommy Brenton drives the baseline

Photo credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke

In many ways, the toughest game for Albany was its 50-49 comeback win over Maine in the quarterfinals of the America East tournament Saturday night at SEFCU Arena. Frankly, the Great Danes weren’t used to having a near-capacity crowd of 4,500 on their home floor and coach Will Brown said they were “uptight and tense.”

But Albany (22-10) got the semifinal matchup it wanted against No. 1 seed...

Read more »

Carson Puriefoy III gives Stony Brook new gear

Stony Brook guard Carson Puriefoy scores on a

Photo credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke

There was no question entering this season that Stony Brook would be a much-improved offensive team with freshman Jameel Warney manning the low post, and he has more than lived up to the hype with a team-leading 12.2 points and America East-leading field goal percentage of .624, not to mention 7.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game.

But it’s the Seawolves’ other freshman – backup point guard...

Read more »

Stony Brook seniors celebrate winning tradition

Stony Brook guard Leonard Hayes drives the ball

Photo credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke

Senior Day can be awkward at times because the starting lineup changes to accommodate everyone who dedicated themselves to the program in whatever role they were asked to play. So, Tommy Brenton, who is Stony Brook’s player of the year candidate in the America East, was joined by reserves Marcus Rouse, Lenny Hayes and Ron Bracey to start the game along with rookie of the year candidate Jameel Warney.

It...

Read more »

Jameel Warney KOs Vermont

Stony Brook forward Jameel Warney looks to drive

Photo credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke

As double-doubles go, Jameel Warney’s 12-point, 10-rebound effort in Stony Brook’s 65-48 demolition of Vermont Friday night at Pritchard Gymnasium sounds rather modest. But make no mistake – it was the freshman who delivered the knockout punch with eight points in a 20-5 Seawolves run to open the second half.

With Marcus Rouse knocking down three-pointers in the first half, Warney managed...

Read more »

Steve Pikiell wants ‘Stony Brook defense’

Stony Brook men's basketball head coach Steve Pikiell

Photo credit: Joseph D. Sullivan

If there’s one thing that sticks in Steve Pikiell’s craw about Stony Brook’s loss earlier this season at Vermont, it’s the number 81 – as in the season-high number of points the Seawolves yielded. The Catamounts led by 18 points with 10 minutes left, and when SBU cut the deficit to four, Vermont managed to get to the rim for easy baskets down the stretch of its 81-73 win.

It hurt that Stony...

Read more »

Eric McAlister: Stony Brook’s X factor?

Stony Brook's Eric McAllister dunks off an alley

Photo credit: Joseph D. Sullivan

Without a doubt, defense and rebounding have been the trademark of Steve Pikiell’s Stony Brook basketball teams, but this season, Pikiell has his deepest and most diverse offense ever. In the Seawolves’ 79-69 victory over Maine on Saturday afternoon at Pritchard Gym, 6-8 starting forward Eric McAlister, who is averaging 4.7 points, demonstrated his potential with a career-high 22 points.

Perhaps...

Read more »

Seawolves’ Anthony Jackson out indefinitely

Stony Brook's Carson Puriefoy drives around Boston's Maurice

Photo credit: Joseph D. Sullivan

For the second straight game, Stony Brook was without point guard Anthony Jackson, and following the Seawolves’ 75-48 blowout of Boston University Tuesday night at Pritchard Gymnasium, coach Steve Pikiell said there is no timetable for Jackson’s return.

Losing Jackson, SBU’s second-leading scorer (11.7) and leader in three-point field goals made (30), for an extended period is no small thing....

Read more »

Big night for several local teams

Iona College in New Rochelle has limited power

Tonight is a big night for several of the NYC Metro-area college basketball teams looking to validate their strong starts or just looking get back on track.

Stony Brook (8-3) @ Seton Hall (10-2) 7:00 p.m.: Stony Brook is beginning to really find its groove. With a solid frontcourt led by Jameel Warney, Tommy Brenton and Eric McAlister, the Seawolves have proven the can play with anyone, including...

Read more »

Local basketball review

Tommy Brenton drives past Binghamton's Taylor Johnson for

Photo credit: Steve McLaughlin

Hofstra: The Pride (3-7) has had a rough go of it lately, particularly on offense. The Pride has failed to reach the 60-point plateau in four of its last five games. Mo Cassara’s crew remedied that a bit on Saturday with its 88-84 loss at LIU. The loss still hurts, but Hofstra did find a new weapon. Penn State Taran Buie scored 29 in the loss. It was the fifth straight game the sophomore guard has...

Read more »