The College of Staten Island men’s basketball squad took on Kean University this afternoon at the CSI Sports & Rec Center in Staten Island, NY. The Dolphins, who have been rolling with a four game win streak, picked up their fifth straight win this afternoon with a historic 72-40 win over the Cougars. The Dolphins improved to 13-4 overall while the Cougars drop their fourth straight and fall to 2-13 on the year.
This afternoon’s game was one for the record books as Coach Tony Petosa and his team held the Cougars to just 40 points which is the lowest coach Petosa has held a team. The last time the Dolphins held a team to 40 points or less was back in the 1996-97 season where the Dolphins defeated Pratt, a non NCAA affiliate, 95-37. It was in the 1988-89 season under Coach Howie Ruppert against CUNYAC opponents Lehman College where the Dolphins last held a team to 40 points or less when they won 78-39.
CSI defeated Kean University for the 10th time in their history and for the sixth straight time. Staten Island forced 16 turnovers which led to a 22-7 advantage in points off giveaways. The Dolphins shot just 4-of-15 from three-point range, three of which were drained by sophomore guard Edic Bracic, and committed 13 turnovers.
Senior forward Will Fonseca grabbed 14 rebounds (four offensive) and scored 23 points (7-12 FG) for his sixth double-double of the year. Senior center Thomas Delahanty played 20 minutes and scored 12 points (3-5 FG) and grab 6 rebounds split evenly.
The Dolphins struggled early on as they could never pull away from the struggling Cougars which led to the score being tied six times in the first half. The men were shooting a frigid 19% for most of the first half which allowed the Cougars to stay slightly ahead. It wasn’t until the waning moments of the first half that the Dolphins started to come alive. Bracic sunk a three-point basket with no time remaining on the clock to send the Dolphins into the locker room with a 32-25 lead at the half.
Junior forward Khaleeq Baum, who has had a sting of double digit games, was quiet this afternoon, only dropping eight points while grabbing six rebounds.
The Dolphins improved greatly in the second half and scored a game high 40 points while holding the Cougars to just 15. The men picked up their defense in the second half and didn’t allow the Cougars any easy baskets and limited second chance opportunities which led to the lopsided score. CSI held Kean to just 13% (4-29 FG) in the second half.
CSI increased their shooting as a team in the second half to 44% from 32%. The men opened up the second half with a 19-3 run which put them 19 points ahead of Kean for a comfortable lead.
The Dolphins really used their size on the undersized Cougars and held a 34-18 point advantage in the paint. Jamal Hopper scored his first points of the year when he was fed the ball inside and converted an easy layup.
The Dolphins will return to action on Wednesday when they take on CUNYAC opponents Hunter College in the second half of a double header at 7:30 pm.
