JERSEY CITY, N.Y. —  Head coach Geno Ford finally had the opportunity to unveil the new-look Stony Brook men's basketball team on Tuesday.

Unfortunately for the Seawolves, they fell to host Saint Peter's 82-68 in a game played in Jersey City.

Eight student-athletes made their debuts for the Seawolves in the delayed season opener, including Frankie Policelli, Juan Felix Rodriguez, Tykei Greene and Jaden Sayles in the starting lineup. 

Junior college transfers Mohamed Diallo and Leighton Elliott-Sewell came off the bench, as did newcomers Omar Habwe and Juwan White late.

Policelli, who sat out last season after transferring from Dayton, recorded a team-high 18 points on 6-for-10 shooting.

Sayles, an immediately eligible Akron transfer, had 14 points.

Diallo, a Northeastern Junior College product, recorded 13 points — all in the first half.

Eleven first-half turnovers helped Saint Peter's (2-1) build a 40-35 halftime lead. But consecutive three-pointers from Policelli in the opening minute of the second half allowed the Seawolves to take their first lead since midway through the first half. However, the Peacocks answered with a 17-0 run and led the rest of the way.

The Seawolves committed 22 turnovers and shot 12-for-25 from the free-throw line and trailed by as many as 23 points in the second half, but clawed back within 72-61 on a three-pointer from Rodriguez with 5:16 remaining.

Stony Brook originally had intended to open its season last Wednesday at Bryant, but that game was canceled.

The topsy-turvy nature of scheduling games amid the national COVID-19 pandemic prompted the late-added game against Saint Peter's to ultimately become the season opener.

Stony Brook looks to regroup Friday when it hosts Fairfield at 4 p.m. at Island Federal Arena. The Seawolves then travel to Queens on Sunday for a nationally televised game with St. John's (FS1).

"It was great to get to play," Ford said about the opener. "It being their third game and our first with such a new roster, it was going to be a good test for us. There were several bright spots. Clearly free-throw shooting and turnovers were really concerning tonight.  We will need to play much better on Friday.  Our guys are looking forward to the home opener."