The College of Staten Island only boasted a single game last week, but rookie T.J. Tibbs was awarded with a City University of New York Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week citation for his outstanding effort against preseason conference favorite York College.  The Dolphins defeated the Cardinals, 76-51, on December 2 in Jamaica, Queens, snapping a five-game skid at the hands of York and improving the team to 5-0 for the first time since the 1981-82 season.
Tibbs, an academic junior playing his first collegiate season, was instrumental in CSI’s conference opener, draining seven points and collecting three rebounds, all on the offensive glass, as CSI enjoyed a 70-41 edge in shots attempted.  Nowhere was Tibbs more on the scene, however, than in managing the backcourt, where he spread out nine assists against just a single turnover.  Defensively, the point guard was a catalyst with five steals, helping the Dolphins to a striking 34-9 edge in turnover differential.
For the season, Tibbs has made all five starts for CSI, tied for a team high 71 points (14.2 ppg), spreading out 3.6 rebounds per game while leading the team with 19 assists.  The junior boasts eight steals this season and his 76.2% shooting from the free-throw line is third on the squad.
As a team, the Dolphins are on their most impressive opening run of the season since 1981-82, when they started 11-0 under then-coach Evan Pickman.  The Dolphins have two games this week on tap.  The team will host Montclair State University on Wednesday at 7:30pm and will travel to Madison, New Jersey, to take on Drew University on Saturday, December 11, at 4pm.