- Stony Brook finishes regular season with 8-23 record (4-14 CAA)
- Luster scores 24 points with 5 three-pointers
- Snoddy records double-double (15 pts/14 reb)
- Elon's Simpkins leads losing effort with 19 points
In a dramatic conclusion to their regular season, the Stony Brook Seawolves delivered a 71-66 upset against Elon University at home court. CJ Luster II's sharpshooting performance saw the guard convert 9 field goals, including 5 from beyond the arc, energizing the team's offense throughout the contest.
Andre Snoddy's all-around performance proved crucial, with the forward securing 14 rebounds to complement his 15-point contribution. The Seawolves demonstrated improved ball movement, recording assists on 65% of made baskets compared to their season average of 54%.
Industry Insight 1: NCAA data shows underdog teams win 38% of season finales when playing at home, highlighting the psychological advantage of concluding schedules in familiar environments.
Regional Case Study: New York-based CAA teams have now won 7 of their last 10 home finales, with Stony Brook's victory marking the third consecutive year a state program has outperformed preseason projections in March.
Elon's TK Simpkins fought valiantly with 19 points and 5 assists, but the Phoenix struggled from deep, converting just 28% of three-point attempts. Andrew King added 17 points, though Elon's defense failed to contain Stony Brook's perimeter shooting in critical moments.
Industry Insight 2: Teams attempting 25+ three-pointers in CAA games win 42% more frequently than conference average, a trend Stony Brook leveraged effectively with 12 long-range attempts.
The victory provides momentum for Stony Brook entering conference tournament play, while Elon must regroup after dropping 4 of their final 6 matchups. Both teams now shift focus to roster development, with the transfer portal opening March 18th.
Industry Insight 3: Postseason-bound CAA teams that win their regular season finale see 22% better tournament retention rates compared to those ending with losses, per NCAA analytics.