By Nick Bond
Rivalry games are known by sports not just for their tradition, but their unpredictability and usually their closer-than-expected results. Our men's basketball team's game against rival Stony Brook was no different. Despite finding themselves up by as many as sixteen points, they were only able to fell the Suffolk-based Sea Wolves by only five points. All was not lost, however, as they still won the game - their seventh straight - and their sophomore captain led all scorers with 21 points. But one still has to wonder why the game was ever able to get so close, especially considering how well the team has been playing so far this season.
Even against conference opponents like Towson, the Pride has performed superlatively, winning games against mid-major competition in Western Michigan as well as local challengers, such as Manhattan and Fordham on their way to a 7-1 record. Lead by sophomore superstar Charles Jenkins, who leads the team with 21.8 points per game, and fellow sophomore and CAA Player of the Week Center Greg Washington who has finally broken out after foul and turnover concerns truncated his freshman campaign.
The team's fantastic performance has been buoyed by contributions from all three junior college transfers, as forward Miklos Szabo and guards Tony Dennison and Cornelius Vines have more than earned their scholarships, stretching the floor for Jenkins and Washington as all three are legitimate 3-point threats, while Lithuanian imports Zygis Sestokas and Arminas Urbutis have rebounded from rough seasons last year to finish their collegiate careers with a bang.
Things have not been all wonderful, however, as many of their wins have come at the last minute and there are still concerns of what will happen against more serious competition, but for the time being, the team seems to be on the right track.