Feb. 20, 2008
Box Score
DURHAM, N.H. --Senior Ricky Lucas (Herndon, Va.) scored a game-high 24 points but it wasn't enough as the New Hampshire Wildcats hit 15 three-pointers on its way to a 74-67 victory over the Stony Brook men's basketball team on Wednesday night at Lundholm Gymnasium.
"New Hampshire is a well-coached team and they shot the ball well," Stony Brook head coach Steve Pikiell said. "We just weren't able to finish like we needed to on the offensive end tonight."
Lucas was terrific for Stony Brook, knocking down five triples in 10 attempts in addition to grabbing five rebounds. Senior Mitchell Beauford (Queens, N.Y.) added 14 points for the Seawolves while senior Emanuel Neto (Luanda, Angola) tallied nine points and eight rebounds.
The Seawolves (5-21, 2-12 AE) struggled at the start as UNH (8-18, 5-9 AE) jumped out to a 9-0 lead behind three-pointers from Tyrone Conley, Eric Gilchrese and Mike Christensen. But Beauford had an answer for Stony Brook, hitting a tough runner from the right baseline for the Seawolves first points and following that up with a steal and lay-up and then a baseline jumper.
The Wildcats took their largest lead of the game at 22-9 with 11:22 left on back-to-back threes from Conley and Gilchrese, forcing a second Seawolves timeout. UNH still led by 12 at 31-19 before Stony Brook finally cut into the lead on the strength of seven straight points from Lucas. Tyrece Gibbs hit a three with under a minute remaining to send the Wildcats into the locker room with an eight-point advantage.
Lucas had a team-high 10 points at the half for the Seawolves who shot 39.1 percent. Alvin Abreu scored 10 for the Wildcats who hit nine three-pointers in 17 attempts in the opening stanza.
Neto kept SBU in the game to open the second half, scoring the Seawolves first six points. But the Wildcats continued to shoot well from three, hitting three of their first four attempts in the opening minutes of the second period to take a 47-36 advantage.
New Hampshire methodically stretched its lead out, building it up to 17 at 57-40 on a Conley free throw with 10:59 remaining. The Wildcats still maintained a 62-45 advantage with 6:07 to go before Stony Brook was finally able to claw its way back into the game with a 12-4 run highlighted by five points each from Lucas and freshman Chris Martin (Springfield Gardens, N.Y.) to make it 66-57 with less than two and a half minutes left in regulation.
SBU eventually pulled within six at 69-63 on back-to-back three-pointers from Lucas but Abreu answered with two free throws on the other end for UNH and the Seawolves would get no closer than six the rest of the way. Christensen and Abreu led four Wildcats in double-figures with 18 apiece as each hit four from long distance.
Stony Brook returns to action on Saturday, traveling to take on the Maine Black Bears. Game time is set for Noon.
