Dallis Joyner gets involved
Dallis Joyner of Stony Brook shoots over Justin Fry of UMBC. Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan
Getting senior forward Dallis Joyner involved in the Stony Brook offense seems to be a priority this season. Joyner, who averaged a career-low 5.6 points per game last season, has scored in double figures in two of Stony Brook’s four games this season and is averaging 9.5 points.
The 6-7, 270-pound bruiser had nine points and five rebounds in the Seawolves’ 67-53 win over Columbia on Tuesday night at Pritchard Gymnasium.
Said Joyner: “Coach tries to tell us to try and get inside, because we have so many jump shooters and guys that are capable of making jump shots that we want to pound it inside and when things open up, let those guys knock down shots.”
Joyner had a big task on Tuesday night dealing with a Columbia team with three players 6-8 or taller, including 6-9, 245-pound Mark Cisco, who’s averaging 7.7 rebounds per game. It’s also worth noting that Columbia has outrebounded two of its first three opponents and actually held a 20-10 advantage over Connecticut on the offensive boards in its 70-57 loss.
“He just wanted me to face up,” said Joyner of Seawolves coach Steve Pikiell. “I worked on my moves [on Monday] with [assistant coach Jay Young], facing up, spinning off those guys and playing under them, because I’m a little quicker than those guys.”
Notes & Quotes: It’s been a tough this season for Columbia. The Lions (0-4) have been without its second leading scorer, Noruwa Agho (knee) for the last two games. Agho injured his knee during the final six minutes of Columbia’s loss to Furman. Agho’s absence has left the scoring burden on the shoulders of junior guard Brian Barbour.
So far Barbour has picked his game up. He had 23 on 9-for-15 shooting against Stony Brook and had 18 in the Lions’ loss to American. Columbia coach Kyle Smith is hoping some of his younger players can help pick up the slack. “We had a freshman Noah Springwater, who had his first real minutes tonight,” said Smith. “He played really well. He hit a big three.”
Smith also lauded the effort put forth by freshmen Cory Osetkowski (4 pts., 5 reb) and Alex Rosenberg (8 pts., 4 reb).
