Methodist University took home the championship honors at the 11th Annual Tournament of Heroes

The College of Staten Island men’s basketball bid for a Tournament of Heroes championship turned sour for the 11th consecutive year, this time as Methodist University overcame a double-digit deficit to notch a 74-69 win over the Dolphins at the Sports & Recreation Center. Methodist improved to 3-7 on the season with the win, while the loss snapped CSI’s six game win skein, and sent the team to 6-2 overall. In the Consolation leg of the tournament, SUNY Institute of Technology scored an 81-77 winner over Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

In the Final, CSI led for a majority of the first half. A three by Jonathan Chadwick-Myers staked CSI to a lead just 2:27 into the contest, and the Dolphins maintained the lead for the next 10 minutes before a 9-2 Methodist run, highlighted by consecutive Christian McRae baskets, gave the visitors a 23-22 advantage. A Kyle Combs trey gave MU its biggest lead a few beats later, 28-22, before CSI ended the frame on a 17-5 run that extended through the final five-plus minutes. Bloochy Magloire canned a three along the while the Dolphins scored their final four points of the frame at the charity stripe, taking a 39-33 lead into the lockers.

CSI started hot out of the gate in the second frame, and a Matt Van Manen basket gave the squad its biggest lead, 45-35, at the 18:28 mark. From there, however, the Monarchs began to chip away. Over the next five minutes, CSI went 1-for-5 from the floor and committed seven turnovers, as Methodist shot off a 14-2 run, sparked by eight straight Desmond Parker points. The run gave MU a 49-47 lead, but the lead would change hands eight more times over the next six minutes.

Finally, a three-pointer by Keemon Ingram gave MU a 65-64 lead, and the visitors never looked back. CSI would turn the ball over their next three possessions and missed three of their next four free-throws. Meanwhile, back-to-back three’s by Ingram and Bryan Hockaday gave MU a 72-65 edge with 2:28 remaining.

Still, CSI did work their way back in the game. A Dylan Bulger put-back and freebies by Magloire cut the lead to 72-69 with 1:48 left, but CSI would miss their final four shots, and the Monarchs sealed the deal at the free-throw line to complete the two game undefeated streak on Staten Island.

For the game, CSI’s Magloire led all scorers with 19 points. Chadwick-Myers added 14 points and a game-high five assists en route to All-Tournament honors. Desmond Parker led all Monarch scorers with 18 points, winning Most Valuable Player honors in the process, while Christian McRae earned an All-Tournament selection with 17 points off of the bench to go with four steals.

In the Consolation Game earlier in the afternoon the Wildcats of SUNY IT finally got their first victory of the 2012 season in an 81-77 victory over the Trailblazers of MCLA, upping their record to 1-8, while MCLA fell to 3-8 on the season.

The Wildcats were paced offensively by Junior Desmian Greer, who scored 25 points, and sophomore T’Andre Richardson, 17 points and 7 rebounds. Greer was named to the All-Tournament team.

SUNY IT controlled the second half, shooting 53% from the field and going 27-of-34 from the foul line. The Wildcats led almost wire to wire in the second half only trailing once at the 18 minute mark. MCLA shot a chilly 31.5% in the contest and were led by both John Jones and Paul Maurice, who tallied 17 points. Jones was named to the All-Tournament team, recording 16 rebounds in the game, tied for the second most ever in Tournament of Heroes play.

Celebrating its 11th year the annual CSI Tournament of Heroes serves to honor the memories of Terrance Aiken, Scott Davidson, and Tom Hannafin, three former student-athletes and basketball players who perished in the attacks at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The Tournament of Heroes was established in their honor in 2002. CSI has never won the Tournament, and now have an 8-14 all-time record in the holiday tourney. CSI will return to the hardwood on Saturday, January 5, when they host Baruch College, at 2pm.