This Friday, the Stony Brook Men’s Basketball team opened up their season against the Marist Foxes. They hoped to win their second consecutive home opener after beating Marist at the opening of the season last year. They did, picking up a big win 71-55.

The Seawolves started out their season with a first half full of offensive firepower. Eric McAlister lead the charge to start the game, winning the tip then scoring the first basket, blocking Marist’s first shot and grabbing the first rebound of the game. Early in the half, both teams showed their start-of-the season rust, with both missing open jumpers and shots down low. For the most part, the two teams matched baskets, with no team gaining a lead greater than five points. Anthony Jackson was the biggest scorer for the Seawolves, dropping 11 points in the half. At about the five minute mark, though, the Seawolves defense started to let up, and the Foxes went on a 9-0 scoring run to put them up 29-22 with 4:15 remaining in the half. But the Seawolves roared right back with a run of their own. Forward Jameel Warney switched to the low post from screening on the pick and roll, and ignited the Seawolves run that put them up 37-30 at the half. Warney finished the half with 6 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal.

In the second half, however, Stony Brook ran away with the game, starting the half out strong and never looking back. They outscored the Foxes 34-25, and never let them threaten their lead the entire period. The team again was lead by Warney and Jackson. Jackson was able to finish the day with 22 points on 53 percent shooting, going three for five from the three point line. Warney, who was named the America East Player of the Game, notched his sixth career double double, with 16 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and two steals.

“I loved the enthusiasm. I thought we played a real good second half. We got a long way to go, but we held them under 60, which was our goal, we didn’t want to foul tonight, that was a goal there and we did a good job of keeping that,” coach Steve Pikiell told media after the game.

“First, I had the butterflies there for the first couple of minutes, and then when they took that lead, we all came together and decided to play. We have a good group of veterans on this team, we have good young guys who were learning, this was their first game…it was more of us having the composure to keep on fighting,” Warney said, commenting on the team’s turnaround.

The Seawolves will host Haverford College this Sunday at 2:00 p.m. in Pritchard Gymnasium.