Brenton sharp as Seawolves dominate

The fans in Pritchard Gymnasium shrieked in midseason form Sunday as the Seawolves took the court for their first home game of the season.

The ever-loud crowd, always appreciated by the basketball team at Stony Brook University, was a welcome sound for junior forward Tommy Brenton, who sat out last season with a dislocated kneecap.

"It feels good to get the love again,'' Brenton said after Stony Brook defeated Mount Ida, 93-39. The Division III team from Newton, Mass., wasn't expected to give Stony Brook much of a game, but the Seawolves (1-1) gladly took the positives after a 30-point loss to Indiana two days earlier.

Brenton had 11 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists in 27 minutes. That topped a long list of successful performances, including Ron Bracey (16 points, seven rebounds), Bryan Dougher (15 points), Dave Coley (11 points, seven rebounds), Al Rapier (nine points, seven rebounds), Dallis Joyner (eight points, 11 rebounds) and Anthony Jackson (eight points).

"Our best attribute as a team is depth,'' Dougher said. "Everyone seems talented. We almost have interchangeable parts.''

Brenton tested the knee with a spin move in the lane in the second half. "It feels normal,'' he said. "Just a little ice after, but I've been doing that for years now.''

Brenton already was near double-double territory by halftime, with eight points and seven rebounds as the Seawolves took a 44-24 lead.

"He does so many things well,'' Dougher said. "He just has a huge impact on the game, offensively and defensively.''

And, Steve Pikiell said, Brenton is exceptional in that he makes players around him better. "He helps Dallis, he helps Al score in the post, he helps Bryan get open,'' the coach said.

Pikiell expects even more from Brenton as the season progresses. "He's not in good shape yet, he's really not,'' he said. "That's why these games are important for him; that's why I wanted him to log minutes. He's not in the kind of shape that he'll be in eventually. Twelve months off, he didn't run, he didn't do anything. Hopefully, he'll get into better shape as we progress toward the league season.''

Stony Brook shot 55.1 percent from the field, with Dougher 4-for-6 from three-point range. The Seawolves had a 57-27 edge in rebounds and 24 assists.

"I don't care who you are playing,'' Pikiell said. "Every game tests you in a different way. I liked the way we played unselfish basketball.''

Notes & quotes:Pikiell said he decided not to play 6-9 senior Danny Carter, who was ejected Friday for a flagrant foul after he hit Indiana's Cody Zeller in the midsection.