Policelli's Performance Powers Stony Brook in CAA Second Round
Rob Washburn
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WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 4, 2023) – Behind 30 points and 16 rebounds from forward Frankie Policelli, 10
th-seeded Stony Brook overcame an early 14-point deficit to knock off No. 7 North Carolina A&T, 76-61, in the second round of the 2023 Jersey Mike’s CAA Men’s Basketball Championship on Saturday night at the Entertainment & Sports Arena.
The Seawolves (11-21), who became the first No. 10 seed to win a CAA Tournament game since 2019, advance to face No. 2 Charleston at 6 p.m. on Sunday in the quarterfinals. North Carolina A&T ended its season with a 13-19 record.
Policelli exploded for 20 points and 13 rebounds in the second half as Stony Brook shot 61.5% from the floor and made 7-of-11 from 3-point range during the final 20 minutes to outscore A&T by 18. Tyler Stephenson-Moore added 14 points for the Seawolves.
The Aggies were paced by All-CAA guard Kam Woods with 25 points and eight rebounds. Tyrese Elliott scored 11 points off the bench and Duncan Powell had 10 points and eight boards.
The first half featured a series of big offensive runs from both teams. Behind six points from Powell, A&T raced out to a 14-0 lead in the opening six minutes. After missing its first nine shots from the floor, Stony Brook answered with a 17-3 spurt and tied the game on Policelli’s trey with 8:14 left in the half. The Aggies responded with a 9-2 burst capped by a Marcus Watson three, but the Seawolves battled back to within 31-28 at the half.
Stony Brook controlled the second half, starting the period with seven straight points to grab a 35-31 advantage. They would never trail again as the hot-shooting Seawolves drained five treys over a 6:43 stretch and capped a 19-6 surge with a Stephenson-Moore dunk to go ahead 56-40 with 9:46 remaining. The Aggies wouldn’t get closer than 12 the rest of the way as they shot just 29% in the second half, including 2-for-14 from beyond the arc.
Policelli is the first player with a game of 30 points and 15 rebounds in the CAA Championship since Navy's David Robinson in 1986; the performance was the first of 30/10 since Old Dominion's Gerald Lee in 2009.
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