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Recap: Connecticut 73, Stony Brook 62
No. 23 Connecticut 73, Stony Brook 62: Niels Giffey recorded career highs of 15 points and nine rebounds, including a pair of 3-pointers during a pivotal second-half run, as the host Huskies overcame a sluggish start with a long-range shooting spree.
Shabazz Napier added 19 points for Connecticut (5-1), which was 14-of-22 from the field in the second half and 8-of-11 from 3-point range. The Huskies didn’t take the lead for good until Napier’s 3-pointer made it 42-39 with 10:44 remaining, part of a 26-8 run which was capped by Napier’s four-point play to put Connecticut ahead 61-47.
Dave Coley scored 15 points and freshman Jameel Warney had eight points and 11 rebounds for Stony Brook (4-2), which played two games in 30 hours after its 82-75 victory over Canisius on Saturday. Tommy Brenton scored 14.
Connecticut, which fell into an early 10-2 hole and missed 15 of its first 18 shots, took its initial lead 22-21 on Giffey’s 3-pointer with 3:45 left in the first half. Stony Brook, though, responded with a 10-4 run to take a 31-26 lead at intermission as Warney had six points and six rebounds in the first 20 minutes.
After a steal and breakaway dunk by Brenton put the Seawolves on top 39-35 with 13:04 to go, the Huskies made seven 3-point baskets during their pivotal run, including three by Napier and two by freshman Omar Calhoun (13 points). Connecticut kept a safe margin and made nine of its 10 foul shots in the final 1:24.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Stony Brook coach Steve Pikiell was a point guard and captain while playing at Connecticut from 1987-91 and helped the Huskies begin their rise to national prominence. He also served as an assistant at Connecticut for one season … The Huskies have played only two home games, with a 66-62 victory over Michigan State in Germany and a three-game sweep in the Paradise Jam tournament in the Virgin Islands in the books. … Stony Brook will also play at Maryland and Seton Hall before settling into its America East schedule.
