Dec. 11, 2006

Box Score

Newark, N.J. - The Stony Brook University men's basketball team held off a feisty NJIT squad, 65-61, on Monday evening at the Fleisher Athletic Center in Newark, N.J. With the win, the Seawolves snap a three-game skid and improve to 4-5 on the season. NJIT falls to 2-8 and extended its' losing streak to eight games.

The duo of Ricky Lucas and Andre Vanterpool proved to be difference in the game as the pair combined for 32 points and 14 rebounds.

"Tonight our team was able to grind out another road victory,"said head coach Steve Pikiell. "Even on a night when we shot 16 for 30 from the free throw line, we were able to win the game. Andre and Ricky were great for us in the game and I am glad to leave this gym with a win.

With 2:59 left on the clock, a Mitchell Beauford lay-up put the Seawolves up by eight, 58-50. However, the Highlanders responded with a 11-5 run to cut the Seawolves lead to just two after Clayton Barker converted a convential three-point play with :22 seconds to play. A Beauford free-throw extended the lead to three and on the following play, Beauford hounded Barker on defense and forced Barker to dribble the ball out of bounds on the left side. Brandon Hickson and Beauford each hit a free-throw to ice the game in the final 19 seconds.

Stony Brook shot out of the gate in the first half, grabbing a 12-2 lead after a Beauford three at the 12:05 mark. Once again the Highlanders clawed back into the game, this time on a 16-6 run spanning just over five minutes to tie the game at 18 apiece.

In their most complete team offensive outing, four Seawolves scored in double figures in the contest. Lucas finished with a team-best 17 points and was one rebound shy of a double-double as he snagged nine in the contest. Vanterpool, in his second career start, had his best game as a Seawolf, netting a career-high 15 points on 4-of-4 shooting from the floor and a 7-of-9 performance from the charity stripe. He also grabbed five boards. Beauford came off the bench and chipped in with 13 points while Popoko added 10 points. Eddie Castellanos handed out five assists in the game, none more impressive than his inbound alley-oop pass to Vanterpool in the first half.

Stony Brook was outrebounded in the game, 37-29, and shot just 53% from the charity stripe. The Seawolves took care of the basketball, committing a season-low 10 turnovers. The Highlanders had 21 turnovers in the game which Stony Brook converted into 30 points.

Clayton Barker scored a game-high 19 points for NJIT while Kraig Peters added 17 points, 15 of which came in the second half.

The Seawolves look to continue their winning ways on the road as they take on Dartmouth in Hanover, N.H. on Thursday evening. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.