Puriefoy tied the game at 57-all on a free throw with 4:20 to go, then sank the go-ahead layup to spark a 14-4 run to the final buzzer. Stony Brook (3-2) cemented the win with 9-for-10 shooting from the free throw line over the last 90 seconds.
Jameel Warney contributed 17 points and 15 rebounds, while Roland Nyama and Tyrell Sturdivant added 10 apiece for the Seawolves, who shot 40.7 percent from the field but went 24 of 35 from the free throw line.
Western Kentucky (1-3) rallied in the second half to briefly retake the lead on a T.J. Price 3-pointer that made it 57-56 with 4:41 to go. Price finished with 19 points in the loss.
