STONY BROOK, N.Y. – The Stony Brook men's basketball team battled but fell, 69-60, to Vermont at Island Federal Credit Union Arena Saturday night. The Seawolves controlled the tempo in the first half, but a steady push and late momentum swing positioned Vermont to come out on top. Stony Brook finish the regular season with a 12-18 record, 7-9 in league play. The Catamounts are 24-6 on the year, 14-1 in the America East.
Boals' Reaction
"I thought we really battled, I thought we really competed tonight," said head coach
Jeff Boals. "I think we've been playing at a high level and coming into this game we were confident, our guys have been preparing and making plays. But Vermont is a really good basketball team that doesn't beat itself. When you play a team like that you can't make mental mistakes because they'll capitalize on it."
Highlights
- Freshman Elijah Olaniyi (Newark, N.J.) drained a three just before the first media timeout to tie things at nine and spark an 11-3 Seawolves scoring spree.
- Stony Brook never relinquished the lead in the first half, despite the Catamounts steadily working their way back into it.
- A layup by Vermont with one second on the clock tied the game at 31-all at the break.
- The two teams traded leads and saw five more ties by the midway point of the second half.
- Vermont scored seven straight points as the clock ticked under 10 minutes, to go up by four, 52-48.
- Redshirt sophomore Akwasi Yeboah (Chigwell, England) was fouled on an attempt from three with just under six minutes remaining and he made all three free throws to give the game its 12th tie.
- Five quick points in the ensuing minute by the Catamounts returned the difference to two possessions.
- Stony Brook got back within three on two occasions in the closing minutes, but was forced to foul late, allowing Vermont to keep its distance.
Notes
- Yeboah led the way with 21 points, marking the 10th time this season he has surpassed the 20-point mark.
- Olaniyi made it back-to-back games in double figures with 11 on the night.
- Stony Brook's bench outscored Vermont's 38-12.
Up Next
The Seawolves will travel to Albany for an America East Playoff quarterfinal game against the fourth-seeded Great Danes on Saturday, March 3 at 7 p.m.
