Jan. 5, 2006

Box Score

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Mitchell Beauford converted a three-point play after hitting a driving lay-up with 1.5 seconds to propel the Stony Brook University men's basketball team to dramatic come-from-behind win over Vermont, 61-58, in America East action this evening at the Stony Brook Sports Complex. With the their second-win in a row, the Seawolves improve to 2-9, 1-2 in conference play, while the Catamounts fall to 6-7, 1-1 in league play.

It was the first time in school history that the Seawolves have defeated Vermont in 10 meetings.

With 17 seconds left in the game and the game tied at 58, Bobby Santiago drove up the right side of the court and controlled the ball until their were just six ticks on the clock. Stephane Bakinde executed a dribble handoff to a cutting Beauford at the top of the key and he sliced through three Vermont defenders to hit the lay-up while being fouled by Tim McCrory. Beauford calmy sank the free-throw to give the Seawolves a 61-58 lead. Vermont had one final chance, but Santiago broke up the long inbound pass to seal the win.

Santiago was sensational for Stony Brook as he tied a career-high with 23 points on the evening, going 8-15 from the field, including a 4-for-8 performance from downtown. Beauford finished with 16 points and Popoko netted 10 on the evening. In a game where the Seawolves were outrebounded, 45-24, Santiago led the squad with just three boards on the night.

The two teams exchanged leads throughout the second half, with the Seawolves regaining the lead at 55-54 with 6:06 left in the game off a Stephane Bakinde jumper. The Catmounts regained the lead at the 5:38 mark off a lay-up by Mike Trimboli but Mike Popoko drained a three with 3:58 left in the game to push the Seawolves lead to 58-56. After a scoring drought of 3:41 for both teams, McCrory hit a leaner in the lane with 17 seconds left in the game to tie the contest at 58.

Vermont held a 32-23 halftime lead but the Seawolves chipped away at the Vermont lead in the opening minutes of the second half, using defense to pressure the Catamounts into multiple turnovers. Stony Brook went on an 11-0 run spanning 3:30 to tie the game at 37 with 14:17 to play after Beauford hit a long jumper, erasing the nine-point halftime deficit. The Seawolves took their first lead of the second half after Antwan Hardy found Santiago all alone at the top of the key, and Santiago buried a three to put Stony Brook up 42-41 at the 12:54.

Stony Brook returns to action when they travel to take on Binghamton in America East conference play on Sunday. Tip-off is slated for 4:30 p.m. The game will be televised on the Madison Square Garden Network.