Men’s Hoop: Second Half Surge Sends Seawolves Past Catamounts 72-61

Courtesy Vermont Sports Information

BURLINGTON – Stony Brook’s starting five scored 69 of its 72 points and the Seawolves used a strong second half to upend the Vermont men’s basketball team, 72-61, Saturday afternoon at Patrick Gym. Stony Brook continues to ride the nation’s longest winning streak (13 in a row) and improves to 17-4 (8-0, America East) while Vermont falls to 13-10 (5-3, AE).

Three Catamounts reached double figures on the afternoon led by Trae Bell-Haynes’ 13-point effort. Ethan O’Day posted his second double-double of the season finishing with 11 points and 10 rebounds while Cam Ward chipped in with 10 points. Ernie Duncan had nine points and five assists in his first career game against the Seawolves.

Jameel Warney dominated the interior as he notched his 14th double-double of the season with 23 points and 10 rebounds to lead Stony Brook. Ahmad Walker did a bit of everything finishing the afternoon with 16 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals.

This was Stony Brook’s second straight win at Patrick Gym and first during the regular season since 2010.

Vermont jumped out to a 5-0 lead to start the game only to see Stony Brook claw back even and then eventually take the lead, 10-9, when Carson Puriefoy hit a pull-up jumper at the 14:02 mark. The Catamounts answered right back going on an 8-0 run to take a 17-10 lead and force a SBU timeout. O’Day and Darren Payen both connected on mid-range jump shots before Dre Wills scored four straight points. His second bucket – a coast-to-coast driving layup – gave Vermont’s its biggest lead of the day.

The Catamounts held onto the lead until the closing seconds of the first half when Walker hit two free throws to send the teams into their locker rooms tied at 33.

Stony Brook began the second half on a 6-0 run and held UVM scoreless until the 14:24 mark when Cam Ward sliced his way into the lane for a scoop shot off the glass. Vermont got the lead to a single point with 12:07 to play but the ensuing possession saw Lucas Woodhouse bury a three as the Seawolves seemed to have the answer all second half.

After the Seawolves pushed the lead to eight with a Warney power slam, O’Day made a nice move in the post to cut the lead to six which set the stage for Nate Rohrer’s long ball to bring the Cats to within 3 with just 3:37 remaining. Out of the media timeout, however, Puriefoy was left alone in the corner and he buried a three and Stony Brook held on from there.

Vermont’s mini two-game homestand wraps up on Wednesday night when the Maine Black Bears come to town for a 7 p.m. tipoff from Patrick Gym. The game will be streamed for free and in HD on AmericaEast.TV and local radio coverage begins on ESPN 101.3 FM at 6:30 with AJ Kanell and Bernie Cieplicki on the call

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