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.

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.

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