Stevens Institute of Technology got off to an early lead, then staved off several CSI second half runs, to post an 87-72 win over the College of Staten Island in non-conference action played at the Sports & Recreation Center this evening.  The win lifted the visiting Ducks to 13-5 overall, while the Dolphins fell to 14-5.
The Ducks never trailed in the game and fired off a quick 8-0 lead over the first 4:33 of the first half powered by a pair of Bryan Franklin lay-ups.  The visitors got up 12-2 at 14:25 on a Simon Smith lay-in before CSI seemed to register an answer.  The Dolphins cut the Stevens lead to three on a pair of occasions, the last at 9:31 via a Dale Taranto three-ball, but Stevens rallied for a 10-0 run to jump out to a 13-point lead at 4:48.  After going up by as many as 17, 39-22, the Ducks took a 44-30 lead into the lockers, having shot 58% in the first stanza.
The Dolphins seized momentum in the second frame, as Taranto scores seven points on an 11-3 run to open the frame, but in what would be a common thread in the game, Stevens wouldn’t let CSI climb fully over the hump, as a Russ Thompson jumper started another 10-2 Stevens run.  Again, CSi cut the lead to six, 64-58 with 7:34 to go, powered by a pair of Jordan Young lay-ins, but the Ducks responded again, this time via a punishing 20-7 run over the next six minutes to stake the Ducks to a commanding 84-65 edge.
From there, the Ducks iced the game at the free-throw line, while CSI scored a couple of late baskets on a fever rush to cut the lead.
Smith led the way for Stevens with 19 points and 16 rebounds in a game marred only by a technical foul for taunting inside the game’s final minute.  Mike Cutri added 15 points, while Thompson added 10 points and 9 assists.  CSI’s Young scored 16 in the losing effort to go with 9 rebounds, while Taranto tallied 17 markers and seven rebounds.
CSI will be back in action on Friday night, returning to CUNYAC play when they travel to face NYC College of Technology for a 7pm tilt.