DOLPHIN MEN GRIND OUT FIRST WIN WITH NAILBITER OVER URSINUS

Dylan Bulger’s lay-in with 13 ticks left led the College of Staten Island men’s basketball team over Ursinus College, 61-60, in the Consolation Round of the Rinso Marquette Tournament held at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pennsylvania, earlier this afternoon.  The win lifted the Dolphins to an even 1-1 on the season, while the Bears fell to 0-2 to start their campaign.

In what was a heavily-contested game through the entire 40 minutes, it was CSI that had the early advantage, racing out to an early 10-4 lead after just four minutes, sparked by a couple of baskets each from Javon Cox and Bulger.  From there, the game teetered back-and-forth, each time seeing Ursinus pull off some baskets when it seemed like CSI could pull away.  Inside of two minutes to play in the first half, a three point bomb by junior Kevin King gave CSI their biggest first-half lead, 30-23, but as was the theme all afternoon, Ursinus came back using a pair of free-throws and a three-ball by Kevin Janowski to close towithin just one possession, 32-30, at intermission.

CSI then assumed control again in the early stages of the second frame.  A three-pointer by Jonathon Chadwick-Myers got the Dolphins started, which was followed by a Louis Valdes three.  After a Cox lay-up, Bulger followed up with another three-point play, staking the Dolphins to a 43-34 lead just three minutes into the second half.

From there, however, momentum belonged to Ursinus, as they followedwith a 9-0 run over the next three minutes, aided by a pair of Jon Ward baskets.  CSI continued to nurse the lead, but a Malik Draper bucket gave Ursinus their first lead, 56-55, with just 4:15 to play. 

The teams traded leads, until at 2:12, Jesse Krasna’s made jumper gave Ursinus another one-point edge, 58-57.  CSI then turned the ball over on their next possession, and after a quick foul, Mark Wonderling gave the Bears their biggest lead, 60-57, with 1:37 to go.  Down by four, Chadwick-Myers missed a three-pointer, but there for the rebound with just 1:13 to play was Cox, who put in the following layup to cut the lead to 60-59. 

On the next possession for UC, Wonderling’s lay-up bounced too hard off the glass, and then Cox came up huge again, blocking a would-be put-back by Ward, and CSI got possession back in their favor with just 33 seconds remaining and down by a digit. 

With 21 seconds to go, King got off a three-pointer for CSI, but the shot went wide.  Again Cox was there, this time collecting an offensive rebound.  After a quick reset, Bulger pulledin underneath the defense and banked home a lay-up with just 13 ticks remaining to give CSI back the lead, 61-60. 

Down to one final oppourtunity, CSI’s defense answered the call, never allowing Ursinus to get off a possible game-winning shot, as time expired.

Cox led the way for the Dolphins with 13 points and six rebounds.  Bulger scored 12 points, and had 31 totals points and 16 total rebounds in the tournament, earning All-Tournament acclaim.  Draper’s 15 points for UC led all scorers, as did his 9 rebounds.  CSI committed just 10 turnovers in the game.

CSI will now stay idle before resuming their schedule on Tuesday, November 27, when they host York College, at 7:30pm.