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#Post#: 46700--------------------------------------------------
Game 29 @ Monmouth - 2/26 TV: SNY & FLOSPORTS
By: ecasadoSBU Date: February 23, 2026, 2:33 pm
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Getting this one started early.
Planning to attend this game at the Shore. Hoping that we can
get past this massive storm. Huge game. We need win out 2 out of
the last 3 if we want any shot at the double-bye. I really want
this one. It would set up a massive matchup @ Hofstra
#Post#: 46708--------------------------------------------------
Re: Game 29 @ Monmouth - 2/26 TV: SNY & FLOSPORTS
By: Chairman of the Board Date: February 25, 2026, 7:45 am
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from Oakes- merging the two threads together and not sure why
this dropped off during the merge, which was originally
successful:
___________________________
Monmouth: 14-14 overall, 8-7 in CAA (8-4 at home)
Teams that beat them at their arena: Campbell, Drexel and
Hofstra
Stony Brook will walk into OceanFirst Bank Center on Saturday to
face a Monmouth team that is coming off two road losses to the
top two teams in the CAA, UNCW and Charleston. It’s not often
that either of those programs lose at home this late in the
regular season as the CAA Tournament approaches. Despite how
strong Stony Brook has looked this season, they have had our
number-- not just this season with their 1-point win over Stony
Brook on February 5th, but in each of the last four games dating
back to the Seawolves last win against them when Tyler
Stephenson Moore, Aaron Clarke and Keenan Fitzmorris were in the
lineup way back on January 25th 2024. What Stony Brook has done
to Hofstra of late, Monmouth has done to Stony Brook. This is a
very different Stony Brook team, but King Rice has his guys
feeling comfortable and ready to play when they matchup with the
Seawolves. After a two-game road skid and their place in the CAA
standings slipping, you better believe Monmouth will come out
swinging back in their home arena.
The sudden arrival of graduate PG Kavion McClain to the team's
roster is something I didn't even write about. Two losses in a
row or not, he has been the talk of the CAA recently. He
transferred to Monmouth after spending last year averaging 14
pts, 3 rb, 4 ast and 2 stl on 38% from three for Abilene
Christian in Texas. But McClain had not played all season, until
of course the game vs Stony Brook earlier this month, because he
was under investigation by the NCAA after being charged in a
federal indictment. for a point shaving scheme. He put up 14
pts, 3 rb and 5 ast on 3/7 from deep to be the 2nd highest
scorer by Jason Rivera-Torres in the narrow win over Stony Brook
at IFCU. You can pretty clearly say he was the difference in the
game. Some untimely Stony Brook turnovers aside, they make those
turnovers without McClain out there -- the Seawolves likely win
the game. McClain put up 20 pts in a win over Drexel the next
game, and also put up 27 pts vs UNCW. Charleston's defense did a
great job holding him to 8 pts on 2/21 as he appeared to feel
uncomfortable getting to the rim with ease against their bigs
and his 3PT shot wasn't falling. McClain has averaged a
team-high 17 pts, 2 rb, 5 ast and 1 stl on 34% from deep in the
5 games he has played for Monmouth and will certainly continue
to be a major factor vs Stony Brook -- I just hope the Seawolves
have a plan to contain him this time around.
Rivera-Torres will also be a primary focus for Stony Brook's
defense in this game. He put up 25 pts vs the Seawolves last
game, his 3rd highest scoring total this season behind games vs
Hofstra and NCA&T. Rivera-Torres' length on the wing is a
matchup nightmare for Stony Brook and it seemed he was able to
get to the rack with ease. I suspect Pratt should once again see
the most of him on defense, but he will certainly need to see
more double teams. As good as he has looked vs Stony Brook, he
does only shoot 39% from the field - which is quite low for a
wing with his shot volume. Rivera-Torres also shoots just 29%
from outside -- so maybe if they prepare for his attacks on the
rim more and let him shoot there is potential for him to have an
off night. But him playing at home and with his team likely to
enter this game with a serious sense of urgency, I expect he
will bring his A-game.
Jack Collins had missed some time this season with a similar
meniscus injury to what Pratt has. He returned in time for the
last Stony Brook-Monmouth game on February 5th, but has been
playing noticeably worse on the offensive end as his FG% has
plummeted to just 33%. Collins has connected on just 26% of his
shots in February, with only 3 of his 26 shots in that span
coming from inside the arc, since he returned from his two-game
absence. Defend him accordingly. He still remains one of the top
on-ball defenders in the CAA and one of the main reasons why
Monmouth ranks 2nd in the CAA in steals. But with Collins out of
the PG role and playing off-ball since McClain returns -- it
kind of turned him into a defensive specialist who is a
liability on the wing offensively. The defense is strong, but
having him out there on the wing instead of a 3PT shooter hurts
them on that end of the ball while putting more pressure on
McClain and Rivera-Torres to carry the load in this offense.
Their freshman rim protector Stefanos Spartalis opened the first
7 games of CAA play averaging just 5 pts and 4 rb on only 36%
shooting. He actually missed the Stony Brook game for
unspecified reasons, perhaps a minor injury. But in the last 6
games he has played he has averaged a much stronger 12 pts and 6
rb -- including a 13 pt, 10 rb performance vs UNCW and a 13 pt,
9 rb performance vs Charleston in the last week. Spartalis seems
to be getting more assertive and if he is going to be scoring
like this, Richard Goods is going to need to keep up with his
production.
Monmouth's former starting SG Justin Ray, turned 6th Man since
McClain came into the fold, put up only 5 pts in 11 minutes vs
Stony Brook last time around. But he is still the team's best
3PT shooter with a team high 56 3PTFGM on a team high 41% from
deep. Ray may play a more integral role in this game vs a Stony
Brook team that will look to get hot from three early.
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Stony Brook: 17-11, 9-6 in CAA (4-7 on the road)
Going on the road vs two tough CAA opponents at the end of the
year is always tough, but it is not impossible. I would think
the message from Geno to his team would be something along the
lines of, "if they can beat us in our house, we can beat them."
There has been talk in Stony Brook circles about not wanting to
Hofstra in the CAA tournament given our win streak -- but I
think the same can be applied for Monmouth not wanting to face
Stony Brook. The Seawolves have to be ticked that they haven't
been able to beat them in a few years so while this will be a
difficult game to win in their house, I think the guys will show
up ready and amped up for this matchup. Taking care of the ball
should be paramount after turning over the ball 17 times in
their last matchup-- including multiple turnovers at the end of
the game.
Pratt put up the typical 20+ pt performance on 9/17 shooting in
the last meeting, and looked pretty comfortable against a tough
defense despite a few late turnovers. He had difficulty dishing
out outlet passes on his drives that we had grown accustomed to
seeing from the downhill guard. Here is to hoping Pratt can get
more guys on the perimeter involved in this one. But as always,
he will have the biggest target on his back.
Pratt is coming off his third 30+ pt game of the season. No
other player in Stony Brook Division I history has scored 30 pts
in a game three times in a season, not even Jameel Warney. He
has 529 points this season which is currently 6th all time. If
Pratt scores 19 points in this game he will pass Tyler
Stephenson-Moore, CJ Luster and Akwasi Yeboah's best scoring
seasons to give him the 3rd highest scoring season ever by a
Stony Brook player. Only Warney, in two seasons (14-15 and
15-16), will have scored more points in a single season for
Stony Brook. The single season school record is Warney's 655
point season during the America East Championship run in 15-16.
Three games remain in the regular season for this team, and with
any luck -- a long CAA Tournament run in DC. As I have stated
for several weeks now, we are quite literally watching the most
talented guard to ever put on a Stony Brook uniform. There is
only one more chance to see him play at IFCU Arena on March 3rd
in the game vs Towson. Do not miss your last opportunity to see
him play at home.
Back to the Monmouth game. Andrej Shoshkikj started the last
Monmouth game going 0/3 from the field before erupting for 18
pts in the 2nd half. It is imperative he starts the game strong
to help Pratt and put Monmouth on their heels early. Shoshkikj
has scored 14 or more pts in 7 of his last 10 games. As
mentioned in my last write up, he has been pickpocketing
everyone lately and has really become a strong defensive player.
Shoshkikj added 3 more steals in the Hampton game to give him 16
steals in his last 7 games (2.3 SPG). Stony Brook will need that
kind of defense vs a Monmouth team that has been getting better
on offense.
Richard Goods struggled to score in the last matchup with
Monmouth-- recording just 7 pts on 0/3 from deep. But he did
pull down 10 boards with Spartalis out. But Goods has looked
very solid lately, scoring 17 pts vs Drexel and 15 pts vs
Hampton. He has also looked better from the stripe, knocking
down 18/23 (78%) from the line since January 31 (if you take
away his 0/2 night vs Northeastern). Its been encouraging to see
how far he has come in that regard after a truly awful start
from the line to open the season. But it would be great if he
can get back to blocking shots again. Goods had 10 blocks in
four games from 1/10 to 1/29, but has somehow only recorded one
block in the 7 games since. Stony Brook could really use that
kind of rim protection in this one as Rivera-Torres and McClain
were getting to the rack with ease last time.
The Seawolves really need to get more production from their
bench in general. Ethan Simmon has been fantastic, and I would
love to see him get more looks from three, but he can't continue
to be the only one producing on offense. Tomas Valentiny has not
surpassed two points in any of the last three games and Jonah
Butler didnt score vs Hampton or Drexel. The bench was a huge
part of what made this team look so deep in January and they
need to get back to that.
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This is going to be a tough final three-game stretch here, but
coming out swinging in the 1st half will go a long way vs
Monmouth. Seeing if Pratt can get others involved early will be
key. There will be a lot of pressure on Shoskikj to get going in
the 1st half in this one, as I do not think the 2nd half will be
as kind to him at Monmouth as it was at IFCU. This is not a game
Stony Brook should win, but it is a game they certainly can win.
Monmouth pulled off a nailbiter at IFCU, so its time Stony Brook
returns the favor and puts an end to this little winning streak
of theirs.
Go Seawolves.
#Post#: 46710--------------------------------------------------
Re: Game 29 @ Monmouth - 2/26 TV: SNY & FLOSPORTS
By: OldSeawolf Date: February 25, 2026, 8:02 am
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Great job by Oakes (as usual). Biggest game of the year, no
doubt. Run the table from this point and we're a 3. Defeat
Monmouth, and we have a good shot at the 4. Lose to Monmouth,
and we're gonna need some help to get the 4. One game at time,
of course, lots can happen from here on out. Gonna be a battle
at their place.
#Post#: 46712--------------------------------------------------
Re: Game 29 @ Monmouth - 2/26 TV: SNY & FLOSPORTS
By: Oakes Date: February 25, 2026, 8:45 am
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[quote author=OldSeawolf link=topic=1227.msg46710#msg46710
date=1772028175]
Great job by Oakes (as usual). Biggest game of the year, no
doubt. Run the table from this point and we're a 3. Defeat
Monmouth, and we have a good shot at the 4. Lose to Monmouth,
and we're gonna need some help to get the 4. One game at time,
of course, lots can happen from here on out. Gonna be a battle
at their place.
[/quote]
Thanks. Its gonna be a big battle. Starts with a strong 1st half
showing.
#Post#: 46725--------------------------------------------------
Re: Game 29 @ Monmouth - 2/26 TV: SNY & FLOSPORTS
By: ecasadoSBU Date: February 26, 2026, 6:45 pm
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Wow. Monmouth threw everything at us. Can't believe we are down
just 12.
We are still in this. Lets see if we can close the half within
10
#Post#: 46726--------------------------------------------------
Re: Game 29 @ Monmouth - 2/26 TV: SNY & FLOSPORTS
By: Chairman of the Board Date: February 26, 2026, 7:08 pm
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did brown just hit three triples in a row?
#Post#: 46727--------------------------------------------------
Re: Game 29 @ Monmouth - 2/26 TV: SNY & FLOSPORTS
By: Accelerator Date: February 26, 2026, 7:15 pm
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Missed the first half but Monmouth is just always a tough out
for us. At least we got it from 22 to down just 8.
#Post#: 46728--------------------------------------------------
Re: Game 29 @ Monmouth - 2/26 TV: SNY & FLOSPORTS
By: Chairman of the Board Date: February 26, 2026, 7:20 pm
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lockdown defense, plus some missed shots from MU, and then a
swat and an alleyoop (goods) and we are back in this quickly.
MU plays with a lot of intensity (we knew that) and presses out
hard. we are handling the ball well.
#Post#: 46729--------------------------------------------------
Re: Game 29 @ Monmouth - 2/26 TV: SNY & FLOSPORTS
By: ecasadoSBU Date: February 26, 2026, 7:25 pm
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Absolutely unreal. We are working our way back into this game.
Down 5. On Fire.
C'mon boys. We really need to win this one
#Post#: 46730--------------------------------------------------
Re: Game 29 @ Monmouth - 2/26 TV: SNY & FLOSPORTS
By: Chairman of the Board Date: February 26, 2026, 7:28 pm
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koj makes a # of plays in the paint, at both ends.
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