STONY BROOK, N.Y. – Goliath survived this modern David on Wednesday night.

Illinois, fumble-fingered and uncomfortable against an aggressive underdog in a glorified high school setting, did what was necessary in dispatching Stony Brook 76-66.

In the wasteland that is state of Illinois basketball, the UI became the only in-state team remaining in either the NCAA or NIT (80 teams) after Rhode Island chilled Northwestern 76-64 and Dayton ripped Illinois State 63-42.

These Illini have posted too many unimpressive victories against mediocre foes to think this would be any different. And it wasn't. Seventeen turnovers raised eyebrows and kept Stony Brook in touch.

But Illinois took advantage of an ultra-hot Mike Davis in the first half and a near triple-double by Demetri McCamey (16 points, 11 assists, nine rebounds). And Illinois bagged 10 of 22 treys, no small factor.

"McCamey didn't have a good game but came out with great stats," UI coach Bruce Weber said. "We didn't understand how hard they (the Seawolves) can play. It was the game of their life, the biggest game in school history, and we go out there making casual passes. We settled down at the start of the second half and that was crucial. We got it to 10 and grinded it out."

Returning home with its first NIT triumph since 1982 (126-78 against a team from this neighborhood, Long Island), Illinois will host Kent State on Monday night at the Assembly Hall. And an additional triumph against the Cincinnati-Dayton winner would propel Illinois into the four-team finals back in New York at Madison Square Garden.

Picking up the pace

Illinois opened the gates early with lackadaisical ball handling and weak passes, giving the Seawolves and their packed audience encouragement in a 7-0 jump. And even as the Illini shot a brilliant 61.5 percent in those 20 minutes – Davis was 7 for 7 – they led only 38-36 as Stony Brook's long-range deadeye Bryan Dougher bagged 15 points, and the Seawolves drove hard for 16 in-the-paint points.

McCamey picked up the pace after a slow start and, with a 10-point, eight-assist first half, joined another three-year squadman, Deron Williams, as the only Illini with 1,100 points and 500 assists.

After McCamey closed the half with an 18-foot fade – oh, how Illinois could have used one of those against Ohio State – quick threes by McCamey, Mike Tisdale and D.J. Richardson ignited the second-half run. Richardson was deadly from the deep corner – my, what one of those would have meant against the Buckeyes – in a 16-point game.

Through it all, Illini passing left much to be desired, but their shooting stayed over 60 percent deep into the second half and the lead reached 55-43 on two Brandon Paul baskets. Gritty Stony Brook forged back within 59-54 but got no closer.

Tate's tidbits

– Talk is growing about the NCAA dropping the NIT, adding virtually the same 32 teams to the NCAA and beginning early Tuesday with 32 games returning the field to 64. The coaches want it, but the deciding factor will be $$$. The NIT loses money, and 32 more NCAA games would bring in a bundle. And regular season games will matter even less than they do now.

– In order to host the America East final, Stony Brook had to meet a conference rule of 3,000 seats. Though disappointed by a loss to Boston University, the necessity of preparing the old fieldhouse allowed them to have it available for the NIT. The renovation here – they intend to turn the court – was put on hold by the failure to receive a $20 million appropriation from the state. Where have we heard that before?

– Nine bridges and 13 tunnels connect the Long Island boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens to New York City. The island is 118 miles long, with a maximum width of 23 miles. The rocky north shore beaches are the result of Wisconsin glaciations moving northward some 21,000 years ago.

– After playing Wisconsin and Ohio State twice each, this marked the fifth straight game in which the UI opponent wore red.

– For all its massive population – densely populated Long Island alone has 7.5 million – New York is shy in producing football prospects. Like Chicago, the emphasis is on basketball. And yet Stony Brook has one New Yorker on the 13-man roster.

Loren Tate writes for The News-Gazette. He can be reached at ltate@news-gazette.com.