Stony Brook knocked off St. Bonaventure 34-20 Sunday to win the inaugural Empire Conference title and the program’s first-ever bid to the DI-AA Sweet 16.

The game was close throughout, and was tied 20-20 in the last quarter. The tide turned when Stony Brook charged down a St. Bonaventure clearance kick off of a lineout, recovered the ball and scored.

Minutes later, with St. Bonaventure desperately scrambling to level the score, Stony Brook’s fly half shot a gap between St. Bonaventure’s No. 10 and inside center for the death nail.

Stony Brook did well playing the territorial game Sunday, kicking deep and having their speedy wings get in the face of Stony Brooks wings and fullback.

“They put our deep three players under pressure with a lot of high kicks, and they got it done,” said St. Bonaventure coach Clarence Picard.

“We played their game against them,” said Stony Brook coach Jerry Mirro. “We kicked deep, and we just dominated the lineouts.

“We played so much better today than yesterday. Yesterday we were looking for that extra yard, and it caused knock-ons and forward passes. I’ll tell you something, (St. Bonaventure is) a good team --  physical. Can’t take anything away from them. Our fitness won the game, no doubt about it, and it showed the last 10 minutes of the game.”

Inside center Sean Rafferty led the Seawolves in tries with two, and Mirro was quick to compliment his forward pack.

“Their rucking and loose play was phenomenal,” he said.

The win sees Stony Brook through to the Hanover, NH regional, where they’ll face Dartmouth, Northeastern or Shippensburg in the opening round on April 28.