Javon Cox had 9 points and seven rebounds in the loss

The College of Staten Island men’s basketball team took a modest lead at halftime, but the Dolphins shot a chilly 33% in the second frame, as host Lebanon Valley College took a 66-58 in the opening round of the Rinso Marquette Tip-Off Tournament in Annville, Pennsylvania this evening.  CSI fell to 0-1 with the loss while the Dutchmen start off at 1-0.

Despite the edge at halftime it was the home team that took control early, collecting a 13-2 run in the early stages to take an early 16-5 lead just over seven minutes into the game.  LVC’s Joey Giangiobbe started the run with a pair of field goals, setting the pace.  CSI would come right back, tightening up defensively and using inside drives from Javon Cox, Matt Van Manen and Louis Valdes to spark an 8-0 run.  Finally, at 2:27, Jonathon Chadwick-Myers drained a long-range three to stake the Dolphins to their first lead at 24-23.  A Dylan Bulger lay-in followed by another Chadwick-Myers three gave CSI their biggest lead, 29-23, before the Dutchmen scored the final three points of the half.

Although they were hardly crisp, CSI was able to play well enough to lead in the first stanza, but that changed in the second frame.  Cold shooting, including a 1-for-14 performance in shooting behind the arc and fould trouble plagued the Dolphins in the second frame, and the result was LVC out-scoring the Dolphins, 40-29, in the frame.

After a trio of ties and lead changes a Matt O’Brien jumper gave LVC a 39-37 lead at 14:33, a lead they would sustain until King King’s basket gave CSI a 46-45 lead with exactly 10:00 to play.  Kevin Agnew responded with a three for the Dutchmen, sparking a 15-7 run that would eat up the next seven and a half minutes.  Down the stretch, the Dolphins made only six of their final 17 shots, committing five turnovers.  CSI’s Cox and Chadwick-Myers both fouled out of the game as CSI was whisted for 22 fouls total, next to just 12 for the home Dutchmen.

Despite the loss, CSI enjoyed a career performance from interior threat Dylan Bulger.  The junior canned 19 points and 13 rebounds.  Chadwick-Myers added 15 points for CSI, while Cox finished with 9 points and seven boards.  Leading the way for the victorious Dutchmen was Kevin Agnew’s 21 points while Danny Brooks collected 16 markers.  The Dolphins outrebounded LVC 39-32, and got off 20 more shots (64-44), but the Dutchmen enjoyed a huge advantage at the free throw line, making 22-of-32 freebies, while the Dolphins went 9-for-14 from the stripe.

CSI will next face Ursinus College, who fell to Middlebury University earlier this evening.  The Consolation Game is scheduled for a 1pm start tomorrow afternoon.