Surging Seawolves Stay First

In America East Standings

BY JIM FURLONG

The Stony Brook Seawolves are surging. More and more people around Long Island are becoming aware Stony Brook is producing the best NCAA Division 1 season in its men's basketball history, and appears ready to earn a post-season tournament bid in March. Coach Steve Pikiell's team owns a school-record nine-game winning streak, and an overall 20-7 record. "When we play good, we can play with anybody," said Pikiell. The Seawolves are:

• First in the America East Conference standings at 12-2.
  

• Achieved back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1993.
  

• Are a league-best 11-1 at home.
  

• A school-record nine victories on the road.
  

• Gained more votes each week in the national Mid-Major Top 25 poll.
  

• Consistent stingy defense.
  

• Created growing fan and student support on their campus in Suffolk County.
  

• Have two definite candidates for 2010 first-team America East honors --     leading scorer Muhammad El-Amin, a sharpshooting 6-5 senior guard, and Tommy Brenton, a versatile 6-5 sophomore forward, who leads all America East players in rebounding (averaging 9.6 per game) and is second for steals (51).
  

El-Amin, the America East player of the week who averages a team-high 16.7 points, continued his hot streak. He aced the game-winning basket with 1.8 seconds remaining Friday night to boost Stony Brook to a 68-66 televised victory at the University of Albany. .Also, sophomore guard Bryan Dougher has made a school single-season record 78 three-point baskets. In a nine-day span, the Seawolves dominated their biggest rival, Binghampton University, 81-61, before a standing-room-only crowd of 1,630 at SBU's Pritchard Gymnasium. El-Amin scored a college-career-high 31 points and Brenton contributed a double-double (14 rebounds and 11 points). The Seawolves stopped a six-game losing streak against Binghampton, and that success came three days after a 83-64 home romp over Maine. Also last week, Stony Brook traveled to Maryland-Baltimore County and rolled 86-72. "In the summer, we knew we would have a good team," said El-Amin. "We all had a common goal -- to win the conference championship." The Seawolves are the front runner to gain the No. 1 seed for the America East Tournament, which starts March 4 in Hartford. The league champion gains an automatic bid to the 65-team NCAA Tournament.

Pikiell looks like the favorite to be the 2019 America East men's coach of the year, but he does not stop to smell the roses. While fans are aware the Seawolves may compete in a nationally televised game on ESPN (the conference title game), the fifth-year coach keeps the team focused on the next game. Pikiell, a team captain at Connecticut 20 years ago, knows Stony Brook won less than 25 percent of its games during his first three seasons. The current surge boosted his career won-loss record to 56-88 "It's nice that we have beaten every team in the (nine-team) league, . . . we had never done that before," said Pikiell. "I don't get caught up in that (talk of superlatives and post-season action). I don't want (the players) looking down the road; just look at the next 40 minutes.''

Stony Brook plays its last regular-season home game February 24, hosting Vermont, which is second in the America East men's standings. MSG Varsity will televise the showdown for first place. El-Amin knows a turning point came after the Seawolves' lone home loss. Stony Brook shot poorly and gave a lackluster effort during a 67-46 setback against Saint Peter's (N.J.) College on December 28. "We took that game off," said El-Amin. "We have been practicing harder and better. . . . The (home) crowd helps us a lot." The team's defensive intensity and impact has really improved. During their nine-game winning streak, the Seawolves limited opponents to 62 points per game. For 27 games, the opponents are shooting a combined 41.1 percent. With a strong core of sophomores, the Seawolves are first in the league for scoring margin (almost seven points per game) and rebounding margin. "We know our roles," said Dougher. ''We knew we had the pieces. We were picked fourth (in the America East preseason poll), but we knew we could win. We, definitely, see ourselves making it to the (NCAA) tournament." El-Amin, a junior college transfer from Michigan, is a confident go-to player. The league's fourth-highest scorer, he often makes a smooth fallaway jumper, and aced 23 of his last 25 free throws.

"Staying in the attack mode," said El-Amin, who has averaged 22 points in his last five games. "That was what the coach bought me here to do."

Brenton, who only averages about five shots per game, has started every game, and grabbed 10 or more rebounds 13 times. Recruited from Maryland, he's skilled, savvy and quick playing all over the court, handles the ball against pressing defenses, often finds open teammates with a team-high 73 assists  and is a consistent, durable  force under the boards. Dougher, from New Jersey, averages 13.4 points a game and opponents always have to respect his long-range accuracy, and he's made 83 percent of his free throws.

Dallis Joyner, a 6-7, 250-pound sophomore forward from Virginia, ranks fifth among America rebounders (6.7) and started every game. Chris Martin, a speedy, aggressive 6-1 junior guard who lives in Queens, averages 10.5 points per game.

Marcus Rouse, a 6-1 speedy freshman guard, is getting more and more playing time and gives Pikiell another 3-point threat and ballhandler. Andrew Goba, a 6-9 senior from South Africa, and Danny Carter, a 6-9 sophomore from England, provide front-court depth. Eddie Castellanos, a 6-1 senior from New Jersey, plays energetic, aggressive defense. Preye Preboye, a 6-6 freshman from Massachusetts, made three of his four shots against Albany, which lost for the ninth time in its last 10 games.  Stony Brook achieved its first 20-win season in almost two decades. In 1991, when the Sewolves were a Division iii program, the team finished 23-4.

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