The College of Staten Island men’s basketball team picked up their first victory on the young season and senior Frank Schettino made history as well in an 87-61 win by the Dolphins over visiting Yeshiva University in their home opener.  The win lifted CSI to 1-2 on the season, while the Maccabees fell to 1-3.  Schettino became the school’s all-time career assists leader early in the second half, surpassing Fred Marinacchio’s mark of 586 set in 1991.

The Dolphins led from the jump, opening up a 7-0 lead before a Yeshiva response, powered by five Schettino points in the early stages.  CSI tempered Yeshiva from there and built their lead to double digits, 22-12, with 8:47 left in the first half.  The lead ballooned to 16 four minutes later thanks to an 11-3 run, helped along by three-straight three-pointers, two by Edin Bracic and another by Robert Rossiter.

CSI assumed its biggest first half lead on a free-throw by Schettino that made it 38-21, but Yeshiva would have the final laugh, making the most of a pair of CSI turnovers in the final minute, as Tal Gweta and Judah Cohen converted lay-ins to cut the halftime lead to 38-23.

The halftime lead was not new to the Dolphins who led in both of their previous games before suffering second-half collapses.  That would not be the case tonight, as CSI twice rallied back from Yeshiva scores, powering up by 16 again on a Schettino lay-up at 17:29.  Schettino again scored at 14:55 to give CSI a commanding 51-34 edge, and then after a Jordan Hod three for Yeshiva, CSI retaliated with another three from Bracic off of a Schettino feeder at 14:25 to put CSI back up by 17.  The assist was the 9th of the game for Schettino, clinching the career record.  He would finish with 11 on the game, finalizing him with 589 helpers, a new record that is sure to increase with each game.

The Dolphins were on cruise control from there, nursing their lead up to as many as 29 points late in the game, when many reserves had already had an opportunity to pour into the game.  The Dolphins saw 15 different players earn minutes, with 9 entering the scoring column.  

CSI was led by Schettino’s 20 points on 8-14 shooting, adding four rebounds and three steals to his 11 assists.  Kevon Murphy finished with 16 points on the interior adding four boards.  Khaleeq Baum and Bracic each added 11 markers with Baum leading CSI with 9 rebounds.  Judah Cohen led all Yeshiva scorers with 19 points, adding a team-high five rebounds.

CSI owned the glass, out-rebounding Yeshiva, 48-26, and shot 55.6% from the floor to Yeshiva’s 41.1%

The Dolphins will return to action on Saturday, when they travel to Jersey City to take on NJCU in non-conference action at 3pm.