STONY BROOK, N.Y. – Backed by a clutch shot from senior guard
Tyler Stephenson-Moore, the Stony Brook men's basketball team (7-10, 3-1 CAA) knocked down the Drexel Dragons (9-8, 3-2 CAA), 67-66, in an absolute thriller at Island Federal Arena on Thursday night.
In a game that featured eight ties and 10 lead changes, the Seawolves found themselves with possession and down by one point with 22.3 seconds left. Out of a timeout, the Seawolves got the ball to Stephenson-Moore. He used a screen from graduate forward
Frankie Policelli, drove to the basket and pulled up for a mid-range jumper that swirled around the rim before falling in to give Stony Brook a 67-66 lead with nine seconds left.
Stony Brook's defense stood strong and stopped Drexel on its final possession of the game, sealing the win.
The first half featured a couple of impressive dunks from graduate center
Keenan Fitzmorris. To open the scoring in the game, he grabbed an offensive rebound and flushed down a left-handed dunk. Later in the second half, Fitzmorris corralled the ball beyond the arc and took one dribble before taking off and slamming a massive dunk over Drexel's 6-foot-10 forward Amari Williams.
Drexel controlled most of the early stages of the second half, but in front of a packed crowd donned in red, the Seawolves were able to come back. Stony Brook went on a 7-0 run inside of 10 minutes left in the game. With about 8:30 remaining, Policelli led his fellow captain, Stephenson-Moore, to the basket on a backdoor cut, bringing Stony Brook within two points.
Moments later, junior forward
Kenan Sarvan splashed a long three pointer to tie the game at 51-51 with just under seven minutes left. Sarvan nailed two three pointers in the game.
On its next offensive possession, Stony Brook went in 53-51. Stephenson-Moore dished off to sophomore guard
Kaine Roberts, who cut backdoor and finished a layup.
The Seawolves and Dragons traded blows back-and-forth the rest of the way. Then, with about 1:30 left in the game, junior guard
Tanahj Pettway took matters into his own hands. He went into isolation mode and spun away from his defender before drilling a tough mid-range fadeaway jumper to tie the game at 63-63.
Drexel responded, but the Seawolves kept fighting and were able to come out with a huge conference win at home.
STATS AND NOTES
- Stephenson-Moore led the Seawolves in scoring for the ninth time this season. He dropped a game-high 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the floor.
- Stephenson-Moore has scored in double figures in 12-straight games.
- Policelli tallied his team-lead sixth double-double of the season. He scored 16 points, on 5-of-8 shooting, and grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds.
- It was Policelli's 12th time leading the team in rebounds this season.
- The two captains, Stephenson-Moore and Policelli, combined for 37 points on 14-of-20 shooting from the floor.
- The Seawolves led for 18:27 in the game and the teams were tied for 7:06 of game time.
- Pettway also reached double figures with 10 points, on 4-of-8 from the floor.
- Stony Brook outrebounded Drexel, 35-24.
- The Seawolves totaled 14 second-chance points and only allowed four.
QUOTES FROM THE SEAWOLVES
NEXT UP
Stony Brook will travel to Greensboro, North Carolina, to take on the North Carolina A&T Aggies on Sunday, Jan. 14. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. and the game will be broadcast live on FloHoops. It will be the first meeting all-time between N.C. A&T and the Seawolves.
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