The score stayed tight early before Stony Brook opened up a 19-9 advantage eight minutes in. Two Seawolves free throws off of a Kevin Stallings technical foul helped Stony Brook build its lead, but the Commodores responded with a 17-5 run of their own to regain the advantage.
Vanderbilt struggled to find good shots on offense in the first half, and a Wade Baldwin transition dunk for two of his team-high 21 points represented one of the few easy opportunities the Commodores found in the opening 20 minutes. Baldwin and Luke Kornet combined to shoot only 2-11 in the first half after both came off the bench for the first time this season.