‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ D.J Munir stays quiet most of the time, a mild-mannered player who speaksthrough his play on the court. But Tuesday night, Munir turned in his bestperformance of his career. And he let everyone know it.
With 10:22 left in the game, Munir drained a three-pointer fromthe right wing and ran downcourt screaming at his own bench, becoming the 18thplayer in Stony Brook history to score 1000 career points.’ He finishedwith 35 points, nine rebounds and six assists as the Seawolves beatconference-leading Boston University, 73-67, in front of 1,145 in the IndoorSports Complex.
Before the game, Munir found out he needed 28 points to reach the1000 point-mark. Add that to the fact that Boston was the top team in theAmerica East coming into the game, with only one conference loss and Munir’senergy was sparked..
He exploded out of the gate. Munir scored 17 of SBU’s first19 points. But he offered no explanation for the hot hand.
‘?I got a quick 12 points and I just kept rolling,’ hesaid.
The win put Stony Brook in a three-way tie for fourth in theconference, a half-game behind third-place Hartford. ‘?I think we might beplaying the best basketball in the conference,’ said Munir, who was 13for 13 from the free-throw line.
Coach Nick Macarchuk said he was impressed with the way his teamapproached the game after Vermont halted their six-game winning streak lastSaturday.
‘?They were disappointed with the loss against Vermont,because after a six wins we thought there would be a different outcome,’Macarchuk said. ‘?But they came out of the gate again and playedgreat’. We’re gonna enjoy [this win] for a day and a half orso.’
SBU jumped to a 17-8 lead early, but the Terriers closed the halfwith a 13-2 run that put them ahead 34-29 at halftime. Then Jarius McCollumwheeled his way to a lay-up under the basket that began a 18-2 run capped byMunir’s three-pointer that put him in the 1000-point club.
But after Munir’s achievement was announced with 7:41 leftin the game, the Seawolves went on a scoring drought that lasted almost fourminutes and BU pulled into the lead with two points, 58-56, with four minutesremaining.
Munir had seen enough. He rebounded a short three-pointer fromBobby Santiago and nailed a three with six seconds left on the shot clock. Andagain with the clock down to four he drew a foul and sealed the game with twofree-throws.
‘?I couldn’t score 1000 and have us lose,’ Munirsaid.
Cori Spencer also did all he could to make sure Munir’seffort wasn’t in vain. He scored 17 points with six rebounds, on 7 for 7shooting, continuing to make an impact for SBU.
‘?Coach just told me that now is the time to step up and be aleader,’ said Spencer, who is averaging 18.5 points in his last fourgames. ‘?With more games under my belt now I understand my role.’
Spencer also said that Munir’s uncharacteristic showing of emotionson the court spread through the team.
‘?When you see him like that, it definitely get everybodyelse to bring their ‘A’ game,’ he said.
