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Stony Brook, N.Y. - Junior Rayshaun McGrew (Chicago, Ill.) started it, and he finished it with a bang.

With the game on the line, McGrew, who scored the first basket in Island Federal Credit Union Arena history, grabbed the biggest offensive rebound of his career and put it back in with seven seconds remaining to give the Stony Brook men's basketball team a thrilling 57-56 win over Columbia in the arena's inaugural game Friday night.

The team was boosted by an incredible crowd of 4,009 fans, who helped the #Seawolves overcome a 16-point deficit.

Head Coach Steve Pikiell's Reaction
"Tonight's crowd was great; the students came out, and it was just an awesome atmosphere for us. I thought this was an old-fashioned Stony Brook win. We grinded it out and found a way to win. Columbia is one of the most efficient offensive teams we play all year. I thought early on we had good looks and weren't finishing plays but I wasn't as worried on the offensive end as I was the defensive end. Our veterans kind of held the young guys together and then our young guys made some big plays. I'm excited for all of them. I think they will all be really good for us." 

Rayshaun McGrew's Reaction to winning basket
"I feel like it just kind of came to me and I took advantage."

Jameel Warney's Reaction
"Togetherness, toughness. For all of preseason we preached togetherness for 40 minutes. We had a rocky start to the game. They are a good team,but we stayed together and won the game."

Carson Puriefoy's Reaction
"We were together the whole game. We went down by 16 at one point but but just came together and hung tough. The crowd was great for us too so that definitely helped us. That was nothing like I've been a part of before. Just with the shear size of the arena, and the amount of people that can fit in it. The fans are great. They packed the house and brought us back in it. Pritchard was always great for us and we are trying to bring that same home court advantage we had in Pritchard to the new arena."

Turning Point
After spotting Columbia a 16-point lead in the first half, the #Seawolves found a way to stay in the game with a 9-0 run that included a big three-point play from junior Carson Puriefoy (Wenonah, N.J.) at the 3:53 mark. Despite Columbia draining seven three-pointers in the first half, the #Seawolves only trailed 31-25 at halftime.

Stony Brook cut the deficit to three on a few occasions in the second half, but the #Seawolves trailed by six, 54-48, with 4:58 to go. That's when the #Seawolves defense turned things up to give its offense a chance. Columbia went just 1-for-9 from the field from there after. 

Meanwhile, Stony Brook chipped away, and freshman Bryan Sekunda (State College, Pa.) hit a thrilling three-pointer from the corner to answer a Columbia layup with 1:18 to play to make it a two-point game, 56-54.

The #Seawolves had a chance to tie at the free throw line. McGrew made his first, but missed his second free shot. Junior Jameel Warney (Plainfield, N.J.) came up big with an offensive rebound and drew a foul. But he missed both of his free throw shots. Warney grabbed his own rebound, but missed the put-back. Then McGrew came up with the loose ball and buried the layup to give the #Seawolves the lead.

Columbia had a shot to win at the buzzer, but Maodo Lo's three-pointer missed, sending the Island Federal Credit Union Arena crowd into a frenzy.

Inside the Numbers

• Stony Brook shot 40.7 percent for the night, but only 47.6 percent (10-for-21) from the free throw line. The #Seawolves were much better in the second half, shooting 48.1 percent from the field (13-for-27).
• Stony Brook outrebounded Columbia 37-34 and had 15 offensive rebounds lead to 12 second chance points.
• Mcgrew finished with 14 points and eight rebounds.
• Puriefoy had 14 points and five assists.
• Warney put up his 16th career double-double with 12 points and 15 rebounds.
• Sekunda had eight points on 3-of-5 shooting.
• McGrew made the first basket in Island Federal Credit Union Arena history at the 18:55 mark of the first half when he connected on a layup, drew a foul and made a free throw for the three-point play.

News & Notes

• Stony Brook has now won its season opening game in each of the last three seasons. Stony Brook is also now 5-0 in season opening home games.
• Stony Brook has now won 30 consecutive games when holding its opponent under 60 points. The #Seawolves are 90-18 during the Pikiell era when holding its opponent under 60.
• Stony Brook has won 37 of its last 42 home games, dating back to the start of the 2011-12 season.
• Stony Brook improves to 9-6 all-time against Columbia, and 19-16 all-time against members of the Ivy League.

Up Next
Stony Brook heads south for a Tuesday night game at SEC member Georgia at 7 p.m. The game is part of the NIT Season-Tip Off, and it will air nationally on the SEC Network.