SMITHFIELD, R.I. — Stony Brook men's basketball coach
Geno Ford understood it would be a work in progress during nonconference play with eight new players this season. That has proven the case as the Seawolves prepare for their America East opener next weekend.
Host Bryant defeated Stony Brook, 81-72, on Saturday.
The Seawolves had rallied to build an eight-point advantage early in the second half, but Bryant answered to take a 60-54 lead as Stony Brook was held without a field goal for 4 minutes, 13 seconds. The Bulldogs' advantage soon thereafter swelled to double-digits.
On a positive note:
Mouhamadou Gueye had five blocks, giving him 79 during his two-year Stony Brook career. That moved Gueye into eighth on the program's all-time list, passing Eric McAlister (75 from 2010-11 through '13-14).
Stony Brook (1-4) had five players score in double-figures:
Jaden Sayles, Gueye,
Tykei Greene,
Juan Felix Rodriguez and
Omar Habwe.
"We were in position to win the game in the middle of the second half," said Ford, who lamented his team's perimeter defense.
Opponents are shooting .400 from three-point range against the Seawolves this season.
Facing the latest in a string of pressing teams, the Seawolves trailed by as many as 10 points during the first half.
Yet Stony Brook rallied.
Held scoreless at Hofstra on Wednesday, Rodriguez drained a three-pointer with 1:50 remaining in the first half to give the Seawolves their first lead, 36-34.
Rodriguez's steal and Habwe's ensuing dunk in the seconds before intermission then opened a four-point lead at halftime.
Rodriguez finished with a team-high 19 points.
Habwe, a transfer from Mount St. Mary's in the Northeast Conference, was no stranger to fellow league member Bryant (4-2). While with the Mount on Jan. 10, 2019, Habwe tallied 11 points and 17 rebounds against the Bulldogs for his lone career double-double.
Stony Brook returns to action against NAIA member Point Park on Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Island Federal Arena. That will mark the Seawolves' final tune-up for the America East opener next weekend at Binghamton.
"We've got work to do," Ford said. "It's very obvious."
