The College of Staten Island men’s basketball team is riding a nine-game winning streak, a mark that includes six-straight wins over CUNYAC opponents, and this afternoon that will get put to the test as the Dolphins welcome in visiting City College of New York. Original tip-off what scheduled for 3pm, but the teams have moved their start time earlier to accomodate for the moving storm in the area.
CSI VS. CITY COLLEGE OF NEW YORK AT-A-GLANCE
Matchup: CSI (11-6, 7-1 CUNYAC) vs. CCNY (2-14, 2-6 CUNYAC)
Where: The Tank – 2800 Victory Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10314
Live Stats: https://csidolphins.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Live Video: https://csidolphins.com/csisportsnet
All-Time Series: Staten Island leads 60-8
Last Meeting: November 30, 2018 – CSI won 92-79
Players to Watch (CSI): The Dolphins’ robust scoring attack is led by Christian Taylor, who is leading the conference with a 22.8 per game average. Taylor is shooting 52.9% from the floor and also leads the squad in assists and steals while posting 6.4 rebounds per game, third on the team. The rebounding leader is fellow junior Adeola Latunji who boasts 8.9 per game along with a healthy 19.2 points per contest. Latunji is also claiming a good stroke, shooting over 48% from the floor and over 70% from the free-throw line. Stephen Flagg has started the last nine games for CSI and has been a force, averaging 12.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Look for Rigaud Destime to have an impact today. He was a force the last time these two teams met, posting 13 points along with CSI game-highs of eight rebounds and six assists.
Players to Watch (CCNY): CCNY’s offense has been very good this season, as the team is averaging over 71 points per contest and have four players averaging in double digits. The leader of it all is Ty-Ler Banks, who is averaging 16.3 points per game, shooting 58% from inside the arc, to go with a team-best 8.8 rebounds per contest. Mike White is the downtown threat, posting 12.2 points per game with a team-high 28 three’s and a 39% rate from downtown. Romello Rashad had a healthy performance last time these two met, and he is next in line with 11.3 markers per game. Isaiah Denard is the final double-digit scorer with 10.5 per game, posting second on the team with 16 three-point baskets. Adem Gutic was an x-factor in the last meeting. He put up 12 points and shared the team lead with four assists in 24 minutes of action in the November meeting.
News & Notes: CSI is enjoying one of their finest stretches over any team against CCNY. They are 60-8 overall against CCNY, a mark that includes a 26-2 overall record at home against the Beavers all-time. CSI has won seven in a row in the series, and have taken 19 of the last 20 meetings dating back to 2007. That said, CCNY did beat the Dolphins in this building, 81-76, three years ago in January of 2016. It was their first win over the Dolphins in 10 years on Staten Island. CCNY has only won two games this season, but both of those wins came within conference play against Hunter College and John Jay College. John Jay was the only school to defeat CSI in the first go-around through the schedule earlier this season. In the first regular season meeting between the two teams CSI prevailed 92-79, but the game was a lot closer than the final score would indicate. The Beavers led for most of the first half and midway into the second before CSI was able to shake off CCNY with a 13-2, and then a 9-2 run in the second half, ultimately cruising to a win. CCNY has had their struggles defensively, as they have yielded 87.8 points per game, the most in the CUNYAC. CCNY is also on a 17-game losing streak on the road dating back to last season. CSI, meanwhile, has won their last five at home after dropping their first two home contests of the season.
