Staten Island, NY | On a day when the Dolphins would honor recently retired head coach Tony Petosa, the men’s basketball team dropped their second-straight contest this afternoon as they fell to York College, 80-67. The loss knocked the Dolphins down to 11-9, 9-3 while the Cardinals improved to 6-13, 4-8. 

Prior to the game this afternoon the 8th Annual Matty White Alumni Game took place, only this time, the game centered on Petosa, who retired from CSI as the winningest Head Coach of all-time not only at the college but of the CUNYAC. Petosa had never played in an alumni game before because he was always preparing his team for the game that followed. Petosa laced up and stepped on the court, only this time as a player.  Playing against all of his former players, there was a smile on his face the entire time he was out on the court.  Each player took their opportunity to guard their former coach whenever he received the ball, but he would always dish it away for a higher percentage shot much like he preached throughout his career as a head coach. 

The alumni game ended in dramatic fashion, with Petosa’s team winning via an overtime three-pointer which sealed the deal for his team, giving him another win for his illustrious career. Prior to the men’s clash against York College, Petosa once again stepped out onto the court, only this time it was with his wife, Dalia, and daughter, Alexa, for what he thought was just a congratulatory speech about his career. Little did he know, that hiding in the rafters was a banner honoring his career as a coach and the records and legacy he left behind when he stepped down during the summer of 2017.

After the ceremony, it was new Head Coach, and former player of Petosa’s, T.J. Tibbs’ time to get his team ready for the big game against York College, a team they needed overtime to beat earlier in the season. 

With just four points separating the Dolphins and Cardinals with just under 10 minutes remaining in the game, it looked like this game was going to come down to the final shot as both teams were playing solid defense. That, however, would not be the case as Christian Taylor’s jumper to shrink the deficit to four would be the last basket the Dolphins would make for a two-minute stretch which allowed York to go on a 4-0 run and increase their lead to eight. 

Edin Bracic was able to bring them back within five after cashing in on a long three-point shot.  The Cardinals’ Forehand-Jenkins would zig-zag his way in the paint and find his way to the rim for the layup to keep the Dolphins from gaining any momentum. Jean Joseph had his way against the Dolphins this afternoon, scoring 27-points, 11 of which came from the charity stripe. Joseph gave the Cardinals their largest lead of the game after laying one in during a 10-2 run.

The Dolphins were unable to bring the deficit lower than eight down the stretch as York tightened up their defense to protect their lead. Adeola Latunji and Robert Rossiter both missed contested shots with three minutes to go, which would have brought the Dolphins right back in the game but the ball would not fall their way.

For the game, the Dolphins shot 40.7% from the floor while the Cardinals shot 47.5% from the floor and dominated the paint. York outscored the Dolphins 44-20 inside and outrebounded CSI 44-29. Staten Island did for 18 turnovers which they were able to convert into 27 points. 

Bracic and Rossiter both finished the game with 14 points, team-high, while Rossiter cleaned the boards with eight rebounds. Taylor finished with 11 points, six rebounds, and three assists. 

The Dolphins will look to rebound on Tuesday, January 30 at 7:30 pm when they host Medgar Evers College at The Tank for another CUNYAC game.
 

GAME VIDEO

 

TONY PETOSA TRIBUTE