El-Amin scores 23 to help Stony Brook beat Vermont 82-78, clinch America East conference title

Stony Brook defeats Vermont 82-78

STONY BROOK, N.Y. — Muhammad El-Amin scored 23 points and Stony Brook clinched its first America East Conference regular-season title with an 82-78 victory over Vermont on Wednesday night.

Dallis Joyner added 20 points as the Seawolves (21-7, 13-2) earned the top seed for the conference tournament, which begins March 4.

The Seawolves took a 66-46 advantage with 8:07 remaining.

Vermont (21-9, 11-4) cut the deficit to 71-66 on Evan Fjeld’s 3-pointer with 2:25 to play and then to 77-74 as Maurice Joseph connected on a 3-pointer with 51 seconds left. Stony Brook’s Tommy Brenton hit a layup and Bryan Dougher sealed the win with two free throws for a 81-75 lead with 8 seconds to play.

Dougher finished with 18 points and Chris Martin added 15 for the Seawolves. Brenton had 11 rebounds.

Fjeld scored 24, Joseph had 21 and Marqus Blakely added 14 for Vermont, which had won seven straight.