The College of Staten Island men’s basketball team have now won five games in a row to left themselves over the .500 mark, and they will look to keep rolling today, when they host Hunter College as part of CUNYAC play at The Tank. Tip is scheduled for 3pm, part of a CSI doubleheader between the two schools in women’s and men’s action.
CSI VS. HUNTER COLLEGE AT-A-GLANCE
Matchup: CSI (7-6, 2-1 CUNYAC) vs. Hunter (3-8, 1-3 CUNYAC)
Where: The Tank – 2800 Victory Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10314
Live Video: https://www.csidolphins.com/csisportsnet
Live Stats: https://www.csidolphins.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Ticket Information: $5 for entry / FREE with a valid CSI Dolphins card
All-Time Series: Staten Island leads 51-24
Last Meeting: February 6, 2018 – CSI won 73-72
Players to Watch (CSI): The hot scoring touch of Christian Taylor continues to temper the CSI offense, as he is averaging a team-best 22.4 points per game while shooting 51.4% from the floor. Taylor is second on the team in rebounding at 6.1 per game, and leads the squad with 42 assists and 28 steals. Teammate Adeola Latunji is CSI’s leader in floor time, posting 33.9 minutes per game while posting a team-best 8.5 rebounds per contest. Latunji is averaging a very steady 19.3 points per game, shooting an even 50% for the season while canning 14 three-point shots. Perhaps no one has lent the greatest impact recently than Stephen Flagg, who through the last five games is averaging 14.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game in 24.8 minutes. His ability to get to the paint and play above the rim while showing long-distance stroke has been a key to the recent five-game win streak. Rigaud Destime in next in line with 7.2 points per game, while Chamald Martin is averaging 5.2 points with a CSI-best 64.9% shooting percentage from the field, with much of the damage from in-close.
Players to Watch (HC): Hunter is being led by the great play of George Kenner, who through 10 starts is averaging 16.4 points per contest and 7.2 rebounds per game, both team-highs. Keener is also second on the team in assists with 21 and his 20 steals is tied for the team lead. Gio Gabbidon is also posting in double figures, with 13.7 points per game and he is a long-distance threat with a 44.8% stroke from beyond the arc. His 4.4 rebounds per game are also third on the squad. Melvin Collins in the team’s primary long-ball threat, posting 17 three-pointers in 48 attempts. He is averaging 7.5 points per contest. Look for Danny Fusco to be a big x-factor. He is averaging 9.3 points per game, and is the team’s leader with 33 assists, sharing the lead in steals as well with 20. Fusco is also the team’s best free-throw shooter, averaging 88.9% from the stripe.
News & Notes: CSI has declared ownership of the series in recent years and they are hoping to continue the success today. The Dolphins have won 51 of the 75 all-time meetings and have ripped off 15 wins in the last 16 matchups. Hunter upset the balance with an 82-81 win at CSI back in 2016, but since then the Dolphins have won four-straight, including a 73-72 nail-biter played in Staten Island last year. The last three games played between these two teams in Staten Island have been decided by a total of just seven points. CSI is 21-12 all-time at home against Hunter, and are 3-2 this season at home, winning three-straight after dropping their first two games of the season at The Tank. Hunter is 2-6 this season away from The Sportsplex where they play at home. The Hawks are on a four-game skid. Their last win came against York College back on December 4, a 68-64 win. CSI recently defeated York, 91-70, on Thursday night. CSI and Hunter share two other common opponents. CSI defeated Medgar Evers, 112-80, while Hunter struggled against the Cougars, falling to them 69-41. Both teams also played NYU, with CSI winning, 87-67, and Hunter falling to the Violets, 89-76.
