Peter Hooley's Play Of The Game: Stony Brook vs UAlbany Recap

-- Albany, NY

UAlbany 51
Stony Brook 50

You couldn't help but stand up and cheer after the play. It was one you wish you could show to every up and coming ball player, something truly special. Most will write about his game winning three, deservedly so. The play of the game however, came in the first half with roughly 5:50 remaining. Peter Hooley would drive to the rim with  5:53 on the clock, attacking the America East's POY and its best interior defensive player, Jameel Warney. His shot would be sent away by Warney, one of Hooley's six misses on eight attempts in the first half.

Rather than allowing the frustration from his poor offensive outing thus far affect his hustle and effort on the defensive end, Hooley would get back on D, reading the eyes of the Stony Brook point guard, Carson Puriefoy.

Then, just as if he was shot out of a cannon Hooley would pounce on the Puriefoy pass.

Scott King found himself alone in the corner beyond the three point line, ready to catch and shoot. Hooley would make sure that pass never arrived.


While just tipping the pass out of bounds to prevent the open King attempt would have been enough, Hooley managed to get both of his hands on the ball. With his momentum carrying him out of bounds he would throw it off of King, allowing the Danes to gain possession.

This one defensive play would exemplify Hooley's abilities as a player, showing off his athleticism as well as his basketball IQ simultaneously. Few players in college basketball have the ability to make that play, even fewer have the fortitude to make such a play during a game in which they've struggled on the offensive end.

As is the case on almost every night he steps onto the court in America East action, Jameel Warney would be this games most dominant player. The New Jersey native would influence the game on both ends, leading Stony Brook in points (20), rebounds (14) and blocks (2).

UAlbany would do an excellent job containing Warney early, holding him to an 0-3 start, controlling the interior on the defensive end. The Danes bigs would be physical with Warney who wouldn't score in over 10 minutes, finally getting on the board with a bucket coming off an offensive rebound. After his first points Warney would heat up, recording 12 points on 5-10 shooting with nine rebounds by halftime. At times Warney would look unstoppable, showing off an array of hook shots, recording one with his right hand and then one with his left on back to back possessions. Only two other Seawolves would score in the half, Puriefoy with 5 and King with 3.

Just as UAlbany showed an ability to contain Stony Brook's best weapon, The Seawolves would limit the Danes as well. Stony Brook did an excellent job helping on ball screens, showing and recovering, while cutting off all lanes to the rim for UAlbany. Sam Rowley would be held without a FG in the first half, while Peter Hooley would finish the half 2-8 and Evan Singletary would finish 0-5.

Carson Puriefoy would hit big three pointers throughout the game, starting with his three to end the scoring in the first 20 minutes of action, which extended the Seawolves lead to 4 just before the break. The Junior point guard from New Jersey would also drain a big three late in the second half, one which would put Stony Brook up by 7 with 2:48 remaining.

After going 0-7 with only 2 points off of FT's in the first half Sam Rowley would come alive in the second, finishing the game with 14 points on 6-21 shooting and 7 rebounds. Rowley's ability to dominate the interior as a 6-6 forward is truly remarkable, and something that must be viewed in person to truly appreciate. He often finds a way to score, surrounded by multiple defenders who are all larger and longer than he is. I truly believe there is not a single more dominant below the rim post player in college basketball than Rowley. To call him crafty would be an injustice to his effort in the post, just as calling him a workhorse would be an injustice to the ability he possesses.

While shots would not fall for the other UAlbany leading scorers, Rowley would get 12 of his 14 points within the first 11 minutes of the second half. Keeping his team just close enough to mount the furious comeback that would lead to their win.  Getting into the body of Jameel Warney would enable Rowley to get his shot off over his taller, shot blocking opponent.

If one wanted to nitpick Jameel Warney's game they would point out his inability to knock down free throws. After Puriefoy would hit his final three with just over 2:30 remaining, Peter Hooley would rush a quick shot on UAlbany's next possession, as Warney would be fouled coming down with the rebound. With a chance to put his team up 9 with 2:30 remaining Warney would miss the front end, leaving the Danes with some life.

In any improbable comeback there's usually a combination of the leading team making mistakes, while the team coming back does everything right. This game would not detour from that script as UAlbany would make winning plays late, from the Ray Sanders steal and lay up , the tough left handed runner by Sam Rowley with 1 minute remaining, to the clutch free throws his brother Mike would make with 21.7 seconds left on the clock. Stony Brook would mishandle inbound passes, miss free throws, allow offensive rebounds on missed UAlbany shots.

There's still no rational way to explain how this game would end. Coming off of a Purifoy missed free throw Albany would have a chance to tie or take the lead with 16.9 seconds remaining. Will Brown would say postgame that the play was drawn up for Peter Hooley all along, but Ray Sanders would deviate from the plan. Seeing an opening Sanders would decide to slash, sending a shot high off the backboard that would not touch the rim. Mike Rowley would manage to flick the ball back towards the top of the key with his forearm, where Peter Hooley had just so happened to position himself.

The play still runs, or should I say walks through my mind in slow motion. Watching the ball approach any Albany player on the perimeter after what had just transpired would be illogical enough, but of all people Peter Hooley? I had the perfect angle to watch his release and see the trajectory of the ball, you knew right away it was going in. I'll get more into the emotional/spiritual side of this play more during my next piece, for now let's just say there was never any doubt that shot was going in.


Next Up: My Personal Stony Brook vs Albany Game Day Recap