On this day 15 years ago, Robbie Marvin had one of the most legendary performances in boys’ basketball history as he poured in 39 points in a 68-66 playoff victory at Wyandanch, one of coach Mike Hickey’s 10 favorite victories. It was the second time in three years that the Bears had ousted the powerful Warriors from the playoffs on their own floor and this contest proved to be one of the greatest in the annals of Stony Brook basketball.

Marvin began the game as sizzling as any shooter could hope to, opening with a 3-pointer, a jumper, two more trifectas, and a layup to give him 13 points in the first 3:42 and Stony Brook an 13-5 edge. Unfortunately for Wyandanch, he was just getting started. He scored the first 17 points for Stony Brook in leading the Brook to a 20-11 advantage after one period. The Warriors battled back with a 17-13 quarter to trail by just five at the interim. Marvin, after his blistering start, managed just 3 points in the second, but Paul Ciofrone scored 6 and Matt Spooner added 4 to fill the gap.

Wyandanch continued to chip away at the Bears’ slim margin, but Marvin kept the Brook in the lead by scoring 10 of the Blue and White’s 17 points, including his fourth and fifth 3-pointers, as they carried a four-point lead into the pivotal fourth quarter. His fourth 3-pointer redefined the term “long distance” as he walked the ball over half court, pulled up from inside the center circle, and drained a 35-foot shot as though it were a mid-range jumper.

In the fourth, the Warriors cut their deficit to three with 5:10 remaining, but five straight points from Marvin pushed the lead to eight with 4:09 remaining. The Bears held a 65-59 advantage with 3:26 remaining, but seven straight points from Wyandanch gave the hosts their first lead since the score was 3-0. With his team in danger of squandering the game, Marvin tied the game on a free throw with 1:09 remaining. On the ensuing defensive stand, the Brook got the stop the needed and placed the ball in Marvin’s hands with the outcome in the balance.

Marvin drained the clock down to a few seconds before driving past his man toward the hoop. He floated a shot from just inside the free throw line that rolled tantalizingly around the rim before falling off, leaving the game seemingly destined for overtime. As the ball began to fall Ciofrone and a Warrior both grabbed for the ball at the same time, tipping it up and into the hoop at the buzzer for a thrilling, incredible, upset victory over the powerful green and yellow. Marvin’s 39 led all scorers as he connected on six 3-pointers. Ciofrone finished with 18 while Spooner and Jeremy Meserole chipped in 7 and 4, respectively.

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