The Seawolves struggled against visiting Colgate before the defense stepped up and limited the Raiders to one basket in the final five minutes for a 63-54 win.
Stony Brook entered the game on a rough stretch of its own, losing five of the last six games, and Colgate wasn't going down without a fight. The Raiders hit three straight three-point shots to build an early 18-14 lead. Turnovers helped turn the tide for the Seawolves, who would force nine of them in the first half, leading up to a 28-27 halftime lead. Stony Brook shot just 38.5 percent from the field in the opening stanza and was out-rebounded 20-12.
Turning Point: With 5:06 left to play Colgate scored on a layup to cut the Stony Brook lead down to two. From that point on the Seawolves' defense suffocated Colgate, forcing the Raiders to miss nine of their last ten shots of the game. The Stony Brook offense then went on a 12-5 run to seal the victory, ending any hope of an upset.
Heroes: Bryan Dougher scored a game-high 15 points, but it was his performance in the clutch moments that was most impressive. With his team leading by just three points, Dougher would score six straight to put the game out of Colgate's reach. He also scored eight of the team's final 10 points of the contest. "It was win time in the game," Dougher said. "Coach always tells us the best players have to take over at the end of the game and that's what I was trying to do."
Quotable: Coach Steve Pikiell on the team's effort: "Everyone chipped in. It was a good win for us, and helps us roll into league play with a little momentum. We've gone through a lot up to date with injuries."
Bottom Line: No opponents can be taken lightly, as Colgate proved. Stony Brook had to fight hard, possibly through some holiday rust, to end its streak of five losses in six games. Dougher had a chance to show that he can be the star player when the game is on the line, a lesson that will be intricately linked to the team's success. Dallis Joyner and Preye Preboye both made significant contributions off the bench, making a case for extra playing time. Free throws continue to be a problem as the Seawolves shot only 12-23, leaving potential points off the scoreboard. It was a good non-conference win to put under their belt as the America East conference games begin.
What's Next? Jan 2, 5 p.m. @ UMBC (0-12). The Seawolves open up their conference schedule against another winless team.
Key Stats:
Dougher: 5-11, 15 points.
Dave Coley: 3-10, 7 points, 7 rebounds.
Box Score
