In a game that featured six ties and 11 lead changes, including four in the final five minutes, it was Ramapo College scoring a decisive 82-78 win over visiting College of Staten Island as part of men’s hoops action at the Bradley Center in Mahwah, NJ. Ramapo pulled ahead to 2-0 on the young season, while CSI fell to 1-2.
In an entertaining game from wire-to-wire, Ramapo seemed poised to take over the game early, launching to an early 14-5 lead in the first four minutes. Christopher Moseley and Frank Nock aided in the effort, as CSI opened by shooting just 2-8 from the floor with a pair of missed free-throws as well. Still, CSI amped up the defensive pressure in time to score a 12-0 run midway through the frame to take a 25-23 lead with 7:46 to go in the opening stanza. Sophomore Fran Schettino was the catalyst, connecting on eight points in the run, including a three-pointer.
Ramapo took the lead back a minute or so later, but again CSI would counter, this time with a 10-0 run to take a 35-27 lead, ended by a Will Fonseca dunk. CSI led by as many as 10 points, 41-31, before the Roadrunners scored the final four points of the half to close to 41-35 at halftime.
After a see-saw first half, more of the same followed in the second stanza. CSI held the lead for the opening 10 minutes, until a jumper by Nock game Ramapo back the lead at 57-55 with 10:06 to go. A rare three-pointer by Fonseca, swung the lead back to CSI at 7:44, and the lead then changed hands with nearly every possession as the teams battled inside of four minutes to play.
After a very poor shooting line from the free-throw line, Fonseca was able to connect on two from the stripe to knot the score at 76-76 with 3:30 to play. From there, however, nerves seem to get the best of both units, as both teams missed a pair of shots on trips down the floor and CSI added a pair of turnovers. Finally, a 1:35, RC’s George Sapp’s jumper gave the home squad the lead. CSI had their chances on their trip down the floor, and after Fonseca missed a shot, freshman Kevon Murphy was there to bank in the rebound to tie the score again at the 59 second mark.
Sapp proved the hero again, as he knocked in a buck with 43 seconds to go to give RC back the lead. Sapp was also fouled, and although he missed his free throw, he was able to get his own rebound, and with just 9 seconds left, Nock swished in a jumper to make it an 82-78 contest. CSI missed a pair of shots leading to the buzzer, falling by the same score.
Fonseca led the way with 27 points and 13 rebounds, followed by Schettino who netted 22 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Murphy added 10 in the effort as well. For RC, Moseley was the leader with 28 points, adding seven boards. Nock knocked in 18 points and 10 rebounds. CSI shot a respectable to 45.2% from the floor, and RC held a slim, 47-46, lead on the glass.
?RC improved their overall record to 7-6 all-time over the Dolphins.
CSI will now be idle until they play again on Tuesday, November 25, opening up the home portion of their season and CUNYAC slate, with a game against Hunter College at 7:30pm.
