Charlie Bruckenthal. Photo Credit: Stony Brook Medicine
Samantha and Matthew Bruckenthal welcomed their son Charlie to the world on New Year’s Day at Stony Brook University Hospital.
Weighing 6 pounds, 4 ounces, the new baby boy was born at 3:16 a.m., just three hours into the start of 2025. Charlie was delivered by Leah Kaufman, MD, Eliza Hammes, RN, and Vanessa Boser, RN.
This is the first child for the couple who live in East Northport and the newborn is the grandson of Patricia Bruckenthal, the Dean of the School of Nursing at Stony Brook University.
The Stony Brook women’s basketball team secured a 54-40 victory over Cornell to close out non-conference play on Dec. 22 on the Island.
Stony Brook was paced by Zaida Gonzalez who led the Seawolves with 20 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Shamarla King tacked on 14 points, six rebounds and two steals, while Breauna Ware chipped in with nine points from the bench.
Stony Brook grabbed 39 rebounds compared to Cornell’s 34, led by Gonzalez’s seven boards. The Seawolves’ defense held the Big Red to only zero percent shooting from beyond the arc and 35.2 percent from the field.
After falling behind 2-0, Stony Brook went on a hot 9-0 run with 8:07 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from King, to take a 9-2 lead. The Seawolves then lost some of that lead but still entered the quarter break with an 11-6 advantage. Stony Brook did most of its first quarter damage in the paint, scoring eight of its 11 points close to the basket. Gonzalez, King, and Janay Brantley accounted for the offensive spark.
The Seawolves used the second period to increase their lead and entered halftime with a 19-12 edge. It was a low scoring half as the Seawolves held their opponent to less than 10 points each quarter through one half… the first time since last season on Feb. 18 against Elon.
After intermission, Stony Brook held on to its advantage and owned a 35-29 lead, showcasing a team effort coming from Gonzalez, King, Brantley, Ware, and Devyn Scott tallying 16 points.
Stony Brook kept widening its lead, expanding it to 44-35 before going on a 10-0 run, finished off by a Gonzalez jumper, to grow the lead to 54-35 with 2:13 to go in the contest. The Big Red narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Seawolves still cruised the rest of the way for the 54-40 win.
After the holiday break and new year, the team will return to the court for the start of CAA conference play on Jan. 3 at Northeastern. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. Coverage will be be available on FloCollege.
Stony Brook men’s basketball held off a late push from Maine to secure a 74-72 victory on Dec. 21 at Stony Brook Arena. Joe Octave matched a season-best effort with 24 points to help the Seawolves pick up their 23rd consecutive win over the Black Bears.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The two sides played close for the entire first half; neither side trailed by more than eight points at any point over the opening 20 minutes of action.
Maine kept things close thanks to its three-point shooting during the first 10 minutes of the first half.
Stony Brook used an 18-5 run over a span of eight minutes down the stretch to turn a five-point deficit into an eight-point advantage with less than four minutes to play before intermission.
The Black Bears whittled their deficit down to four points entering halftime, but baskets from Octave and Ben Wight to begin the second half pushed Stony Brook’s lead back to eight points.
A pair of free throws by Collin O’Connor at the 11:53 mark of the second half increased the Seawolves’ lead to double figures, 52-41, for the first time in the contest.
Stony Brook’s lead grew to 14 points later in the period following a 6-0 run before Maine held Stony Brook without a point for nearly three minutes to make it a two-possession game.
CJ Luster connected on a trifecta with 4:55 remaining on the clock to put Stony Brook ahead 66-57.
Despite not registering another made field goal over the final four-plus minutes of action, Stony Brook held off a ferocious comeback from Maine to pull out the two-point victory.
Maine’s press defense caused issues for Stony Brook in the final minutes, forcing the Seawolves to turn the ball over multiple times and use their final two timeouts. The pressure helped Maine turn an eight-point deficit with 58 seconds left into a two-point deficit and a chance to tie or win the game on the final possession. Stony Brook came up with a loose ball on Maine’s final offensive possession and dribbled out the clock to escape victorious.
STATS AND NOTES
Octave matched a season-best mark with 24 points. He has now scored double-digit points in 10 of Stony Brook’s 12 games. Octave and Luster have combined to score 20 or more points in five games this season.
Stony Brook converted on 21-of-22 (95%) at the free throw line, a season-best mark. The Seawolves 21 made free throws are the most since February 29, 2024.
Stony Brook shot 50 percent from deep (7-14), the second-best mark for the Seawolves this season. Fifty percent of Maine’s scoring came from beyond the arc.
The Seawolves improved to 4-0 this season when scoring at least 70 points.
Nick Woodard played 10 minutes off the bench, scoring nine points while shooting a perfect 4-for-4 from the floor.
Snoddy grabbed 11 rebounds, adding four points and a pair of steals. He has pulled down double-digit rebounds in three of his last six games.
Stony Brook improved to 30-14 all-time against its former America East counterpart. The Seawolves earned their 23rd straight victory over Maine and have now won 16 of the 22 contests and 13 straight on Long Island in the series history.
“We have had a heck of a week. I thought we played two games well, but struggled to finish both. Luckily, we had enough of a cushion today that we hung on late,” head coach Geno Ford said. “Maine has a nice team. They had already won on the road over an A-10 team and have played well on the road in general. We are getting better, but have a lot of work to do.”
The team returns after a holiday break, heading north to face in-state rival and former America East foe, UAlbany, on Sunday, December 29. Tip-off between the Seawolves and Great Danes is scheduled for 2 pm, streaming live on ESPN+ from the Broadview Center.
Stony Brook University has announced that doctoral student Florence Aghomo won the Young Women in Conservation Biology (YWCB) Award from the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) Africa Region. Aghomo is a doctoral student in the Interdepartmental Doctoral Program in Anthropological Sciences (IDPAS) and a member of the Institute for the Conservation of Tropical Environments (ICTE) under the supervision of State University of New York (SUNY) and Stony Brook Distinguished Service Professor Patricia C. Wright.
This annual award presented to a woman aims to recognize and applaud contributions to conservation. Aghomo was selected for her:
evidence of leadership, creativity, self-motivation, and enthusiasm in the execution of conservation work;
evidence of service to conservation biology; and
ability to work with others across gender, social class, and ethnicity to achieve concrete conservation outcomes.
Florence Aghomo
Since June 2019, Florence is the coordinator of the Red Colobus Conservation Network project under the Primates Specialist Group of the Species Survival Commission of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN/SSC/PSG), Re:wild and the African Primatological Society (APS). Under this project, she is technically and administratively coordinating the implementation of the Red colobus Conservation Action Plan (ReCAP) and an international network (more than 300 primatologists). She is responsible for sourcing collaboration with conservation partners and organizations, fundraising and reviewing members’ proposals. She is also responsible for hosting, organizing, and steering meetings with international partners and members, sustaining digital platforms, monitoring and evaluating achievements, and supporting youth professional growth through training and mentorships.
Before this position, Aghomo’s research/work involved studying the behavior and ecology of endangered Red colobus monkey as well as establishing practices to ensure their protection and safety in the Korup National Park in Cameroon. Her work takes her into dense forests where these monkeys live and she explores the canopies of trees looking for these large primates.
“They [Red colobus monkeys] are so special because they are very beautiful, unique, and perfect indicators of ecosystem health or habitat change since they are usually the first group of primates to leave a habitat when any disturbances or degradation occur,” said Aghomo. “Moreover, their diversity reflects the various bioregions of the African forested areas at large.”
Passionate for primate well-being and conservation, in 2020, Aghomo facilitated the creation and legalization of the Cameroon Primatological Society (CPS) and organized the 1st and the 2nd General Assemblies with the support of Re:wild. In Madagascar, she created a Language and Environmental Center in Ranomafana under her foundation “Flor’Afrique” to support education and conservation in this part of the world, which is home to a high biodiversity (Biodiversity hotspot) and the world’s second leader in primate diversity.
“Florence is a conservation hero, who has already made an incredible difference in saving wildlife in Africa,” said Professor Wright. “I am pleased to see her apply her skills to Madagascar and to graduate school here at Stony Brook. We are looking forward to sharing in her future accomplishments. She is a winner!”
The YWCB Working Group was established in 2005 by the Africa Region of the SCB, based on the need to fill the gap created by the limited numbers of women professionals in the field of conservation science in Africa. It was further mandated to act as a platform for early career African conservation biologists to share experiences (albeit with a major emphasis on women), generating incentives and mentorship opportunities to strengthen female conservation biologists in their careers.
Aghomo currently resides in Stony Brook while studying at Stony Brook University.
Take small, manageable steps towards a healthier life in 2025.
That, among other things, is the advice of area doctors as residents transition from purchasing presents and making meals to writing lists of New Year’s resolutions about their mental and physical health.
“Scale down what you want to do to make it feasible,” said Dr. Raja Jaber, Medical Director of Lifestyle Programs at Stony Brook Medicine. “Don’t say you want to lose 50 pounds. It’s not going to happen. Do it step by step. Choose one or two things you want to change.”
Indeed, several local health care professionals urged people to consider setting goals that are not only achievable but can also offer residents the belief that they can continue building on their successes.
Creating smaller goals can help people “see successes more quickly and build up confidence in meeting those goals,” said Dr. Adam Gonzalez, Vice Chair of Behavioral Health and a psychologist at Stony Brook Medicine.
Gonzalez urged people to practice a relaxation response daily, where they focus on their breath, a positive image, or a word or a phrase.
For Gonzalez, the words that he uses are “persistence” and “perseverance,” which offer him encouragement to believe that things can and will get better.
Doctor visits
People who haven’t seen their doctors in a while, particularly parents who are more focused on the health of their children than on their own physical and mental health, should take the time to see a general practitioner and, if necessary, specialists.
Annual physicals provide doctors and their patients with the kinds of information that provide a baseline for how the body as a whole and specific organs like the heart, liver, and kidneys, are doing.
Dr. Erika Kalabacas, a primary care doctor with Northwell Health Physician Partners. Photo courtesy Stony Brook Medicine/Jeanne Neville
In some households, mothers dismiss any concerns about their own health, as they focus on their children, their spouse and extended family.
“They put their health last,” said Dr. Erika Kalabacas, a primary care doctor with Northwell Health Physician Partners in Huntington. “They should not be pushing everything off. They should be putting themselves first. If they feel well and are healthy, they can help those around them.”
Staples of good health include eating well, with reduces processed foods, exercising, staying hydrated, getting sunlight, which provides vitamin D, sleeping seven to eight hours and reducing stress, Kalabacas said.
Researchers have been studying what kind of exercise and diets might work for men and women.
While intermittent fasting can help women to some degree, it is not as effective as it is for men.
It’s better, Kalabacas suggested, for women to eat breakfast as a part of three balanced and nutritious meals each day, than to skip meals in the morning.
“I tell all my patients, the two biggest things you can do to help yourself, are to reduce alcohol intake and to eat breakfast,” she said.
Skipping breakfast often comes back to haunt people later in the day, as they binge eat foods later at night that can cause heartburn and affect their sleep.
In addition to caring for her patient’s physical health, Kalabacas and her partners ask questions through a PHQ-9, or Patient Health Questionnaire, which offers indications of depression.
Kalabacas has a therapist in her office, to whom she refers patients who need help with psychological issues.
Be kind to yourself
Medical Director of Lifestyle Programs at Stony Brook Medicine, Dr. Raja Jaber. Photo courtesy Stony Brook Medicine/Jeanne Neville
Jaber suggested that people be “gentle and kind” to themselves as they set goals for the new year, without feeling the need to judge themselves constantly.
Setting a goal of only eating healthy more often than not leads to failure and disappointment.
“Being 100 percent super committed to healthy choices is so impossible to follow,” said Jaber. “That’s how people fail.”
When residents resolve never to eat sweets again, they wind up succeeding for a while and then binge. Controlling a diet requires eating a smaller piece of cake and savoring every bite, she suggested.
Becoming healthier can start by working with a supportive group who can offer encouragement.
As people age, Jaber suggested that physical fitness is the “key to longevity” or to preventing disease.
Healthier lives often start by building in specific times when people can focus on their mental health, through mindfulness exercises, or physical health, by exercising.
Mind-body connection
Doctors recognize the connection between the health of our bodies and minds.
“We know our mental and physical health are directly connected and impact one another,” Gonzalez said.
The Stony Brook psychologist urged people to make genuine social connections and engage in healthy and enjoyable activities.
“We take for granted some of these strategies that we think everyone knows,” Gonzalez said. “We might not actually be putting them into practice.”
Citing decades of research on the health benefits of the relaxation response, Gonzalez urged people to listen to an album that brings them joy, watch a funny movie, take a hot bath with a lit candle, or any of an array of actions that improve their mental health.
Some residents may also need to connect with a health professional.
Gonzalez pointed to gold-medal winners such as gymnast Simone Biles and swimmer Michael Phelps, who have shared their mental health struggles and their ways of coping with them.
Practicing relaxation response helped these athletes regulate their emotions and control their mental state before engaging in competition.
Amid uncertainty around the globe and anxiety about the future, residents can benefit from focusing on their self care and their connectedness to people around them.
“We can control our presence in the community,” Gonzalez said.
Thieves come in all shapes and sizes, robbing people of valuable possessions or irreplaceable personal keepsakes.
Diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and forms of dementia also rob people, taking away their memories, connections to their past and even their sense of themselves.
At times, however, people who are battling these conditions can emerge from its clutches, offering a fleeting, or even longer, connection to the person their loved ones knew, the passions they shared, and the memories that helped define a life.
In a study published in November in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, Stephen Post, Director of the Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care and Bioethics at Stony Brook University, gathered information from surveys with 2,000 caregivers who shared their reactions to unexpected lucidity from forgetful people.
“Caregivers can find inspiration in these fleeting moments,” Post wrote in a summary of the conclusions of the study. “The research aims to guide caregivers and enhance the understanding of the enduring self-identify of deeply forgetful people, promoting compassionate care and recognizing the significance of our shared humanity.”
Such moments of clarity and awareness, at levels that can be more engaging than the typical behaviors for people suffering with various levels of forgetfulness, can be rewarding at any point, but can offer a particular gift to caregivers and families around the holidays.
Possible triggers
Post suggested that these moments of lucidity can be purely spontaneous and surprising. Theycan also arise during an intervention, when a caregiver or family member provides some specific stimulation or memory trigger.
“Caregivers can sing a song that their loved ones identify with from earlier in life,” said Post. “We’ve done that here at the Long Island State Veterans Home on the Stony Brook campus.”
Several years ago, Post wrote about a room of 50 veterans, many of whom spent a good part of their days in a haze without acting or interacting with others.
When they heard “The Star Spangled Banner” or other patriotic music, as many as 70 percent reacted and started to sing the song. The duration of participation varied, with some saying a few words or a line, others singing a verse, and still others making it through the entire song,
After the song, people who might have seemed out of reach could react to closed-ended questions. This could include choices such as whether they preferred toast or cereal for breakfast.
“A good half of them were able to respond and sometimes even carry on a brief conversation,” Post said.
Art can also help draw out forgetful relatives. Groups around the country are taking forgetful people and their caregivers to art museums in small groups. Looking at a famous or particularly evocative piece of artwork, people might express appreciation for the magnificence of a painting.
Poetry can also serve as a stimulus. Forgetful people who listen to the poems of Robert Frost or other familiar writers can respond with the next line to words deeply ingrained in their memory.
“Their affect picked up,” said Post. “They were smiling, they were excited and enthusiastic. That’s great stuff.”
These moments can provide a connection and offer joy to caregivers.
Other possible triggers include smells, such as the familiar scent of a kitchen; interactions in nature, such as the feel of snow on someone’s face; or playing with pets.
The forgetful can “respond joyfully to dogs,” said Post. “It can remind them of [a particular] dog from 30 years ago.”
Additional research
Caregivers who help forgetful people through their daily lives sometimes struggle with the question of whether “grandma is still there,” Post said. That metaphor, however, can miss the “hints” of continuing self identity.
The National Institute on Aging has funded Post’s study on what’s happening with the brain during these moments of lucidity.
A challenge in that research, however, resides in doing PET scans or collecting other data when those moments are spontaneous and unpredictable.
The work from Post’s recent study indicates that these periods of clarity are important for the morale of caregivers, with many of them feeling uplifted from the interaction.
Post sees further opportunity for study. In his next project, he hopes to cover how to operationalize this information into an intervention. “It’s very practical, very real and can do a heck of a lot” for the forgetful and their caregivers, he said.
To be sure, some forgetful people may not respond to some or all of these cues, as the damage from their diseases may have made such outreach and actions inaccessible.
When these moments, fleeting though they may be, occur, they can be rewarding for caregivers, family members and the forgetful themselves.
Jean Mueller with her late mother Geraldine and her father Daniel. Photo courtesy of Jean Mueller
Jean Mueller, Assistant Director of Nursing/ Project Manager in the Department of Regulatory Affairs, Patient Safety & Ethics at Stony Brook, recently spent time with her father Daniel, 95. The elder Mueller lost his wife of 74 years Geraldine several weeks ago and is in an assisted living facility.
Taking her father out was too difficult, as it could cause agitation and confusion.
“We went and had Thanksgiving dinner with him there,” Mueller said. “He seemed to really enjoy it, in the moment. He knew the food and he knew it was a holiday. He didn’t ask me where my mom was.”
The interactions can be challenging, as she sometimes feels like she’s pulling “all the strings and you don’t know what you’re going to get” when she interacts with him, she said.
Still, Mueller suggested that it doesn’t matter whether he remembers her visits.
“In the moment, he matters, it matters and he’s still a person,” she said. ‘When you get to the point where everything has been taken away from you, and you lost your independence, even if it’s for a short period of time, you can feel valued again.”
She considers it an honor to be able to share that with her father.
A former inspector in the Suffolk County Police Department and a commander of homicide, Mueller’s father has a well-known sweet tooth.
When she visits, Mueller brings an iced coffee with hazelnut syrup and half and half, a crumb cake, croissant or donut. “He’s in seventh heaven,” she said.
When he sees his family, his face “lights up,” said Mueller.
“Even if the memories of our visit is fleeting, for those moments in time, he’s a devoted father and a valued father and grandfather who still feels our love.”
First-year head coach Billy Cosh has been recognized as the 2024 AFCA FCS Coach of the Year, a significant milestone following Stony Brook’s remarkable turnaround season. This prestigious honor, announced earlier today by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), makes Cosh the first head coach in program history and second ever first-year FCS head coach to receive this accolade.
This marks the third Coach of the Year award for Cosh this season. Previously, he was named the 2024 CAA Coach of the Year and the 2024 AFCA Regional Coach of the Year. After inheriting a team that endured a winless 2023 campaign, Cosh led the Seawolves to their best season since 2017. At just 32 years old, Cosh is the second-youngest coach in Division I football and has revitalized a program that was projected to finish last in the CAA Preseason Coaches Poll. Under his leadership, Stony Brook achieved an impressive 8-4 overall record (5-3 CAA), marking their first winning season since 2018 and their highest national ranking in six years.
This season represents the most significant turnaround in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), with Stony Brook improving from a 0-10 record in 2023 to 8-4 in 2024. Cosh’s eight victories also place him among the top-performing first-year head coaches in FCS history, and he is now the fastest head coach in program history to reach this milestone.
Stony Brook’s offensive and defensive statistics saw dramatic improvements under Cosh’s leadership. On offense, the Seawolves improved their scoring average from 15.2 points per game in 2023 to 29.6 points per game in 2024. They also increased their average total yards from 314.2 to 403.9, rushing yards from 104.1 to 170.3, and passing yards from 210.1 to 223.6. The team’s touchdown total soared from 19 in 2023 to 44 in 2024.
Defensively, the Seawolves allowed just 24.0 points per game this season, compared to 39.2 points per game in 2023. They also reduced total yards allowed per game from 470.7 to 373.5 and limited opponents to 32 touchdowns compared to the 53 allowed last year.
Under Cosh’s leadership, Stony Brook has excelled on both sides of the ball, ranking among the top 10 in FCS for several key categories: red zone defense (70%), red zone offense (90.2%), time of possession (32:27), fumbles recovered (14), turnover margin (0.83), and turnovers gained (26). The team also ranked in the top three in the CAA for fourth-down conversion percentage (63.6%), blocked punts (1), blocked punts allowed (0), passes intercepted (12), punt return defense (6.2), scoring offense (29.7), tackles for loss allowed (4.5), and several other categories, including time of possession, turnover margin, red zone offense, red zone defense, and fumbles recovered.
Cosh’s guidance has elevated several players to national recognition. Running back Roland Dempster became only the second player in program history to be nominated for the Walter Payton Award and earned First Team All-CAA honors. Defensive lineman Rushawn Lawrence also secured First Team All-CAA recognition. Tight end Cal Redman, kicker Enda Kirby, and cornerback Rudy Silvera were named to the Second Team All-CAA, while offensive linemen Niko Papic and AJ Roberts earned spots on the All-CAA Third Team.
The head coach for the Seawolves and Keiser’s Myles Russ join Colorado Mines’ Brandon Moore, Richmond’s Mike London and Valdosta State’s David Dean as the only coaches to earn AFCA National Coach of the Year honors intheir first season as a head coach. Dean was the Division II winner in 2007, London was the FCS winner in 2008, and Moore was the Division II winner in 2022.
The winners are selected by a vote of the Active AFCA members at four-year schools in the Association’s five divisions. The AFCA has named a Coach of the Year since 1935. The AFCA Coach of the Year award is the oldest and most prestigious of all the Coach of the Year awards and is the only one chosen exclusively by coaches.
The current balloting procedure involves selection of 25 regional winners: five regional winners in each of the five divisions – FBS, FCS, Division II, Division III and NAIA, who become finalist for national coach of the year. Following regional voting, five national winners – one from each division – are chosen. The other recipients for the 2024 AFCA Coach of the Year were Indiana’s Curt Cignetti (FBS), Valdosta State’s Tremaine Jackson (Division II), Salisbury’s Sherman Wood (Division III) and Keiser’s Myles Russ (NAIA).
To purchase season tickets, call 631-632-WOLF (9653) or email the ticket office at [email protected].
Dallysshya Moreno looks to pass the ball during Wednesday's game. Photo courtesy of Stony Brook Athletics
The Stony Brook women’s basketball team returned to the Island on Dec. 18 with a 67-29 victory over Georgian Court. The Lions were held to just 25 percent from the field for a 12-for-47 shooting performance as the Seawolves’ defense dominated with 18 forced turnovers.
Stony Brook had three players score in double figures, led by Zaida Gonzalez, who had 17 points and six rebounds. Dallysshya Moreno recorded her first career double-double off the bench with a career-high 16 points and 11 rebounds. Breauna Ware chipped in as well with 13 points, six rebounds, and a team-high five assists and three steals.
Lauren Filien helped on the boards, grabbing a team-high 12 boards as Shamarla King added seven of her own as the Seawolves held a 58-20 advantage over Georgian Court.
Ioanna Giannopoulou made her collegiate debut with Stony Brook, adding a three-point bucket with less than 10 seconds to go in the contest.
After falling behind 8-6, Stony Brook went on an 11-0 run with 5:12 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Moreno, to take a 17-8 lead. The Seawolves then lost some of that lead but still entered the quarter break with a 17-9 advantage. Stony Brook did most of its first quarter damage scoring 14 points in the paint.
Stony Brook kept its first quarter lead intact before going on an 8-0 run starting at the 3:04 mark in the second period, highlighted by a bucket from Lauren Filien, to increase its lead to 32-16, a score that would hold until halftime. Stony Brook was strong from deep in the period, knocking down two three-point shots to account for six of its 15 points.
Following intermission, Stony Brook continued to expand its advantage, pushing it to 41-20 before going on a 6-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Moreno, to expand its lead further to 47-20 with 14 seconds to go. Stony Brook continued to play well near the basket, scoring 10 of its 15 points in the paint during the third quarter.
Stony Brook held a scoring advantage going on a 13-0 run, finished off by Giannopoulou’s three, to grow the lead to 67-29 with five seconds to go in the contest, a score which would hold for the rest of the game. Stony Brook took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring 14 of its 20 points in the paint highlighted by Moreno.
“Great win for our team! Feels good to be back in the win column. Proud of our team’s defensive effort of holding them to single digits each quarter. We continue to stress the importance of getting multiple stops in a row and limiting opponents offensive rebounds and we showed growth in that area. We finished 21-0 on the offensive glass and finished the night with 58 total. Rebounding is a measuring stick of our effort so very pleased with that tonight. There are areas we must still improve, but we will enjoy this win tonight and move on and focus on Cornell tomorrow,” noted head coach Joy McCorvey postgame.
The team closes out the year on Sunday, Dec. 22 at home against Cornell at 1 p.m. This will be the eighth meeting between the Seawolves and Big Red in program history. Coverage is set to be available on SNY and FloCollege.
Andre Snoddy looks to pass the ball during Saturday's game.
Photo courtesy of Stony Brook Athletics
Stony Brook men’s basketball picked up a road win over Rider in Lawrenceville, N.J. on Dec. 14, topping the Broncs 72-55 behind a 20-point performance by CJ Luster II and Andre Snoddy’s second double-double of the season.
The two sides were deadlocked 8-8 through seven minutes of action to open the contest. Stony Brook gained a six-point advantage, maintaining it until a 7-0 Rider run that put the Broncs ahead, 21-20, with five minutes to play in the half.
After grabbing a 25-22 lead, Stony Brook went on a 9-0 run with 1:36 left in the first half, culminating in a three from Luster, to increase its lead to 34-22.
The Seawolves then lost some of that lead, but still entered halftime with a 34-24 advantage. Stony Brook relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down seven shots to account for 21 of its 34 points. Rider trimmed its deficit to five points, but Stony Brook responded with a 12-0 run, finished off by a Joe Octave jumper, to grow the lead to 50-33 with 12:57 to go in the contest.
Stony Brook’s lead grew to as large as 19 points down the stretch, maintaining a double-digit advantage for the remainder of the contest. The Seawolves held on to secure the 72-55 win. Stony Brook shot well again from three-point range in the half, hitting six shots from deep to score 18 of its 38 points.
“Great win for the guys. We have been getting better in practice, but we needed a solid game performance from a confidence perspective. I also thought that was the best game of Andre’s career, he was terrific,” head coach Geno Ford noted.
The Stony Brook women’s basketball team was defeated by the University at Buffalo, 72-55, on Dec. 14 at Alumni Arena. Shamarla King registered a double-double as Breauna Ware and Janay Brantley both scored in double figures for the Seawolves.
After falling behind 10-0, Stony Brook went on a 5-0 run with 5:31 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Brantley, to narrow its deficit. The Seawolves continued to close the gap, cutting the Buffalo lead to 17-13 by the end of the first period.
The Seawolves would find their footing and ultimately tie up the game and then take a one-point lead off a pair of three-pointers from Zaida Gonzalez and Ware. Buffalo pieced together some plays that gave them a 32-26 lead heading into halftime. Stony Brook tallied six three-pointers through the first half, a season-high.
The Bulls continued to increase its lead after the intermission, building a 44-28 advantage.Stony Brook then went on an 8-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Devyn Scott, to trim its deficit to 44-36 with 2:40 to go in the third. Buffalo countered and stretched its lead to 50-36 heading into the fourth.
Buffalo kept widening its lead, scoring a game-high 22 points through the fourth quarter. They constructed a 65-43 advantage before the Seawolves went on a 5-0 run to shrink the deficit to 65-48 with 2:45 to go in the contest. Stony Brook was unable to cut further into the Bulls’ lead by the end of the game.
Prev
