Together We Transform Thursday – December 13, 2018
 
Remembering Noah Farrelly
 


Noah Farrelly came to Stony Brook this fall filled with excitement as a freshman on the cross country team. A gifted runner and high-achieving student from Binghamton, Noah quickly bonded with his new teammates due to his kind heart and unique sense of humor.
 
Our department was rocked to the core on the evening of December 4 when we received news that Noah had been struck by a vehicle near campus while out for a run. Sadly his injuries were ultimately too traumatic to overcome, and he passed away peacefully two days later.
 
It is every athletic director's worst nightmare to lose a student-athlete. We have now experienced that devastation twice during my time at Stony Brook and I pray that it never happens again. When parents send their children to Stony Brook, they do so knowing that their daughters and sons are becoming a part of our Stony Brook Athletics family. Our family is extremely tight, and that is why we are hurting so badly right now.
 
Noah was an incredible young man who will forever be a part of our Seawolves' family. It is important that we honor him in such a way that future student-athletes, coaches and staff will know the kind of person that he was.
 
I ask you to please keep Noah and his family in your hearts and minds this holiday season. They will remain in ours forever.
 
Women's Basketball Off to Best Start Since 1986-87
 

Something very special is taking place with Stony Brook Women's Basketball. If you have not come to Island Federal Arena to watch this team play, you need to get tickets now and come on Saturday.
 
Caroline McCombs' team is riding a nine-game winning streak heading in to Saturday's game against Wagner, and their 9-1 record marks the best start since the 1986-87 season. The senior guard tandem of Shorty Johnson (16.4 points per game) and Jerell Matthews (15.9) has been electric. Shorty's 90 assists leads the nation while her 3.4 made three-pointers per game is 17^th nationally.
 
As great as Shorty and Jerell have been, sophomore starters Oksana Gouchie-Provencher, India Pagan and Hailey Zeise are making their presence felt through timely scoring and tough defense.
 
This team has a chance to do something for the first time in program history by winning the America East and making the NCAA Tournament. History is happening right before our eyes. Come check them out once and I promise that you will want to come back. 
 
Men's Basketball Off to Best Start Since 1992-93
 


The women might be off to their best start in 32 years but the men have been on fire as well, jumping out to a 9-2 record for their best start in 26 years.
 
Last night's 83-79 win over LIU Brooklyn showed why Jeff Boals' young guns have everyone excited. With only one senior (Jaron Cornish) and one junior (Akwasi Yeboah), our team is loaded with freshmen and sophomores who are making an impact. A small sample of youth being served from last night:
 

• Freshman Miles Latimer erupted for a career-high 18 points, including a thunderous dunk that brought the Island Federal Arena crowd to its feet.
• Sophomore Elijah Olaniyi, last season's America East Rookie of the Year, scored 14 points.
• Sophomore Jordan McKenzie came off of the bench to knock down two huge free throws with 22 seconds left to extend the lead to four points

 
The straw that stirs the drink is still Akwasi, who became the ninth Stony Brook men's basketball player of the Division I era to reach the 1,000-point plateau. He was sensational last night scoring a game-high 24 points – none larger than his go-ahead three-pointer with 54 seconds remaining that made the score 79-77.
 
After being on the road for eight of the first 10 games it was nice to finally be home last night. Fortunately we're home on Sunday against Delaware and Wednesday against Hofstra. We need big crowds for both so be sure get your tickets.
 
It's been a fun start to the basketball season, but the best is yet to come. Keep believing!
 
Warm regards,
 
Shawn