America East tournament has not been kind to Stony Brook
Stony Brook's Tommy Brenton drives the baseline against UMBC's Malik Garner in the first half. (Feb. 19, 2013) Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan
Is this the year?
In the previous three seasons, the America East Tournament has been the place where Stony Brook's dreams of a first NCAA bid have gone to die. Here's the litany of heartbreak:
2010 - After winning the regular-season title behind Player of the Year Muhammad El-Amin, Stony Brook beat Albany in a tough first-round game but then was upset, 70-63, in the semifinals by hot-shooting Boston University, which got 24 points from reserve Corey Lowe.
2011 - Seeded fifth after Tommy Brenton missed the season with a dislocated knee, Stony Brook upset Albany and No. 1 seed Vermont to reach the title game at BU. The Seawolves had a 15-point second-half lead but lost, 56-54, on two foul shots with 2.4 seconds left by John Holland, who had 23 of his 27 points after halftime.
2012 - Stony Brook won the regular-season title, survived a first-round scare from Binghamton and then beat Albany, 57-55, on a buzzer-beating tip-in by Dallis Joyner to host the title game for the first time. Vermont scored only five points in the final 9:55 but held on for a 51-43 win over the ice-cold Seawolves, who shot 29.3 percent.
