Stony Brook’s Bryan Sekunda leads win over UMBC
Bryan Sekunda #22 prepares to pass during Stony Brook's game against UMBC at Stony Brook University's Island FCU Arena on Jan. 13, 2016. Credit: Daniel De Mato
If only Bryan Sekunda had purchased a Powerball ticket.
It was the Stony Brook sophomore’s night on Wednesday. He hit a pair of three-pointers in the in the first minute, drained his first five shots and went on to score a career-high 21 points as the Seawolves held off UMBC for an 86-74 America East victory before 2,381 at Island Federal Credit Union Arena. SBU (12-4, 3-0) has won eight straight.
“It always feels good to have shots go in so every time I shoot I’ll be confident with it,” Sekunda said, “so it was good to see the first two go in.”
On a night like that, there’s no telling what throwing one up in the lottery might have brought him.
Jameel Warney also had a big night, though that now happens so often it almost goes unnoticed. The 6-8 senior had 20 points and 12 rebounds giving him 50 double-doubles for his career. It’s almost like Warney’s excellence has become a backdrop for every Seawolves performance. As they keep winning different players have excelled, but his numbers are always there.
“When you go into a game, you feel a lot better to know you have a solid rock down underneath the basket,” Rayshaun McGrew said, turning to Warney with a smile. “You’re the rock.”
“I was laughing when he came back from the Binghamton game and he had 14 points and 14 rebounds and people were saying he had an ‘off’ night,” 11th-year coach Steve Pikiell said. “He does a lot of things, makes them all look easy and none of them are.
“More importantly, he’s a great leader. He brings more than just the [rebounds] and the points. He brings a calming influence on our guys.”
With Sekunda streaking outside the three-point arc, the Seawolves made 14 of their first 18 shots and raced out to a 17-point lead before halftime, but with 9:16 to play Jarius Lyles (24 points) drained a deep three to make the margin 64-61. Warney, the two-time America East Player of the Year, converted a three-point play on the ensuing possession to start a 14-4 run and SBU coasted from there.
McGrew scored 20 to give SBU three 20-point scorers for the first time in 17 years of Division I play.
“Fifty is a big number: it’s testament to my consistency over the years,” Warney said. “I really wanted to mold my identity as a rebounder. The points were always there. I feel like I am a complete player now.”
Pikiell said he “is proud of his development” and will try to “enjoy” Warney the next two months. He realizes now that when Warney arrived at SBU, he’d hit the lottery.
