LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. — It was pitch dark early yesterday morning when the ball was tossed up at tiny Alumni Gymnasium.
Inside Rider University’s Central gym, however, when most of the country was sleeping, there was an electric atmosphere.
The sold-out home crowd held a white-out. Virtually the entire bandbox of a home court was full of rowdy students and loud fans wearing white Rider T-shirts. ESPN’s television cameras, reporters and photographers surrounded the court.
For the second time in three years, Stony Brook went on the road for a 6 a.m. tip-off during ESPN’s 24-hour college basketball marathon, and for the second time left New Jersey winners, 54-46.
“It’s going to be memorable for years to come,” said Seawolves senior forward Tommy Brenton, who missed the ESPN game two years ago.
Stony Brook coach Steve Pikiell wasn’t hesitant when approached about playing the game at such an odd time. His players were likewise thrilled for the opportunity, sleep deprivation be damned.
“Six a.m.’s a great slot,” Pikiell said. “All day long they’ll be watching highlights of our game.”
They sure didn’t play like they were groggy, limiting explosive Rider and St. John’s transfer Nurideen Lindsey to 30 percent shooting and taking control of the game with a 15-0 run in the first half. When Rider pulled even behind a late Lindsey flurry, Dave Coley ignited a game-ending 13-5 run with a jumper and later added four clutch free throws.
“We’ll go anywhere and play anybody to get on TV,” Pikiell said.
Stony Brook, which has reached the America East Conference championship each of the last two years, stayed at a nearly hotel Monday night and had a wakeup call of 3:30 a.m. The players didn’t need any coffee — Brenton, a graduate student, said he normally would have been studying, though Coley and junior guard Anthony Jackson admitted they would usually still be sleeping for a few more hours.
Rider coach Kevin Baggett took the unusual step of having his players stay at a nearby hotel the night before the contest and ran 6 a.m. practices in the days leading up to the game.
Pikiell said he hopes to be asked to return to the marathon next year. The tip-off time is irrelevant. Stony Brook has enjoyed so much success with 6 a.m. games, the eighth-year coach would welcome an identical time slot — with a twist.
“We want a home game,” Pikiell said, “and we’ll pack the place.”