Feb. 20, 2006 - Men's Basketball Falls Short at Boston University

Antwan Hardy poured in a season-best 20 points but it was not enough as the Boston University men's basketball team held off a furious late rally from the Seawolves with a 73-68 victory over Stony Brook Sunday afternoon at Case Gymnasium. BU improved to 10-15 overall, 7-7 in America East play. Stony Brook fell to 4-21, 2-12.

The Seawolves trailed by double-digit in each half but would not go away until the very end. Stony Brook, which has lost six straight and 11 of its last 13, fell to 1-16 on the road this season.

BU's Kevin Gardner, who had a career-best 27, led the way for the Terriers, who completed the season-sweep of Stony Brook.

In the second half, the Terriers built on a seven-point halftime edge, as Corey Hassan nailed a pair of 3-pointers and Shaun Wynn connected from downtown to give BU its largest lead of the day, 46-34 with 15:35 remaining in the game.

The Seawolves responded immediately, as Hardy scored six points in an 8-0 run to cut the SBU deficit to four, 46-42 with 14:13 remaining. Hardy scored a team-high 20 points, including 16 in the second half. The teams continued to trade hoops until a pair of Mitchell Beauford free throws drew the Seawolves to within two, 60-58 with 8:21 remaining.

BU stretched the lead to 68-62 on a Gardner dunk with 2:32 remaining, but Stony Brook drew within one, 69-68, after Hardy drained a pair of long threes. Two Brian Macon free throws with 27 seconds left put the Terriers back ahead by three, and the Seawolves' Mike Popoko missed a potential tying three with 13 seconds remaining. Hassan hit two free throws to salt away the victory.  Mike Popoko  
netted 16 points on the afternoon for the Seawolves, to go along with five boards. Beauford chipped in with eight points, three assists, and three steals in the game.

BU jumped out to a large lead early behind a pair of threes from Hassan and led 14-4 at the 13:55 mark. Stony Brook rallied, however, with an 18-5 spurt, and Tre Cunningham's three put the Seawolves on top 22-19 with 7:38 left. The teams traded baskets for the next four minutes before the Terriers scored the last nine points of the half to take a 34-27 advantage into the locker room.

The Seawolves wrap up the season with a pair of home games this upcoming week. Stony Brook will host Hartford on Wednesday before concluding the regular season with a home contest against Maine on Sunday. The America East Tournament in Binghamton, N.Y., from March 3-5 awaits the Seawolves.