Feb. 18, 2004
Box Score
Albany, N.Y. - D.J. Munir scored seven of his season-high 31 points in the second overtime to lead Stony Brook to an 81-74 America East Conference victory over Albany on Wednesday evening at the Recreation and Convocation Center.
Stony Brook (8-16, AE 5-10) rallied from an eight-point deficit with just over two minutes left in regulation to force extra periods. Albany (4-20, AE 2-13) built a 60-52 lead with 2:43 remaining, when freshman guard Jon Iati, who scored a career-high 26 points, hit a running one-hander in the lane.
The Seawolves, who used full-court pressure to get back into the
contest, ran off seven straight points to close within 60-59 on a free throw
by freshman Mike Popoko, who had 16 points and six rebounds. Albany's Levi
Levine sank a pair of foul shots to give his team a three-point margin with
5.8 seconds left. But Munir buried a 22-foot jumper from the top of arc
that beat the buzzer, and sent the game to overtime tied at 62 apiece.
In the first extra session, the Great Danes went ahead 67-64 on a
jumper by Levine, who finished with 13 points and seven rebounds. Stony
Brook would draw even at 67 apiece, as Cori Spencer split a pair of free
throws. Spencer, a 6-foot-7 junior who recorded a double-double with 15
points and 12 rebounds, missed a potential game-winner on a follow shot in
the lane with three seconds to play.
Stony Brook took control early in the second overtime, as Popoko
made a conventional three-point play when he was fouled on a
offensive-rebound basket. Munir, a 6-foot-3 senior who made 9-of-19 from
the floor, then canned a one of his five 3-pointers from left of the key for
a 73-67 advantage. Albany's Iati later connected on a driving layup to cut
into the lead at 77-74, but Munir hit two free throws to seal the verdict
with 17.9 seconds remaining.
Freshman Mitchell Beauford had 12 points for the Seawolves, who also
won this year's first meeting in overtime, 65-61, back on Jan. 21. Albany's
Courtney Johnson and Chris Wyatt scored 13 and 10, respectively.
