VESTAL, N.Y. — For the 13th straight season, the Stony Brook men's basketball team earned a win its America East opener.

The Seawolves closed the first half with nine straight points to open a double-digit lead at intermission en route to a 73-59 win against host Binghamton on Saturday afternoon.

Stony Brook (3-4, 1-0 AE) led by as many as 23 points in the second half.

The Seawolves shot 50 percent (28-for-56) from the field and outrebounded Binghamton, 39-32.

"I thought the intensity we played with today was significantly higher, and that means we're learning and we're getting better," coach Geno Ford said.

Earlier, leading 29-26, Tykei Greene's three-pointer with 2 minutes, 41 seconds remaining began a 9-0 run to close the first half.

Greene and Frankie Policelli led the Seawolves with 15 points apiece. Jaden Sayles scored in double-figures for the seventh straight game to open his Stony Brook career with 12 points.

Stony Brook leads the all-time series 46-29.

"We took a positive step today, but we still have a lot of stuff to work on," Policelli said.

The Seawolves remain upstate for another 2 p.m. tipoff with Binghamton (0-4, 0-1) on Sunday. America East is playing back-to-back conference games against the same opponent at the same venue this season in order to limit travel amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It will be interesting, because we have not played back to back," Ford said. " We'll have to rally ourselves for tomorrow."

Said Greene: "It's always harder to beat a team the second time, but we have to stay mentally locked in."