Senior Herschel Jenkins collects with his teammates prior to tip-off against John Jay College.
The College of Staten Island men’s basketball team shot 52.9% from the floor and scored their highest point-total of the season, blowing by visiting John Jay College at the Sports & Recreation Center as part of CUNYAC play, 94-74. The win was CSI’s third straight, lifting the Dolphins to 18-5 overall and 13-2 in the conference, while John Jay fell to 13-12, 9-7, respectively. Prior to the game, CSI honored lone senior Herschel Jenkins, celebrating Senior Day at the College.
With the memory of a stinging three-point loss to John Jay from earlier this season fresh on their minds, CSI started the game on a 10-0 run, with Jonathan Chadwick-Myers converting a pair of JJC turnovers into baskets, prompting the Bloodhounds to call for time-out. After back-to-back Isaiah Holman three’s for the visitors, CSI responded again with a 14-2 run over three and a half minutes, powered by a pair of Javon Cox inside drives, part of what would be a huge effort by the sophomore. With 12:01 still to play in the opening half, CSI was up big, 24-8.
JJC tried to chip away, and after another Holman three, CSI’s Bloochy Magloire connected on two straight, including a three to get CSI up by 20, 37-17 with 5:20 to go. From there, again tried to chop the lead down, and a pair of back-to-back three’s by Darryl Dennis and Korede Griffith cut CSI’s lead to 14, but again CSI responded, this time with five-straight Cox points and a Magloire jumper to close the half, helping the Dolphins to a lop-sided, 49-30, halftime lead.
The Dolphins shot 58.3% in the first half, holding JJC to just 32.4% in the process. Still, CSI wanted to avoid a let-down in the second half, and they did just that, continuing to dominate the inside game and getting the clutch three-s when it counted. After a Michael Howard three cut CSI’s lead to 62-41 with 13:50 to go, CSI again moved ahead via a numbing 10-2 run, bookended by Cox baskets.
From there, CSI was comfortable the entire way, leading by as many as 31, 92-61, with 6:39 to go. With CSI’s reserves seeing plenty of time, JJC finished the game on a 13-2 run, but CSI’s lead was secure, holding up with a 94-74 final.
Cox led all scorers for CSI with 30 points and 11 rebounds to go with four steals. Magloire added 26 points and 10 rebounds, as CSI out-rebounded JJC, 45-37. Holman finished with 23 for the visitors, while Howard finished with 12 markers.
In 25 minutes, senior Herschel Jenkins connected on five points, six rebounds and three assists for the Dolphins.
With one game remaining on the schedule, CSI continues to hold a one-game lead over Baruch College for the top-spot in the conference, and would win the conference regular season championship with a win on Tuesday over Hunter College or a Baruch College. Game time at Hunter on Tuesday is scheduled for 7pm. Either way, CSI will host a CUNYAC Tournament Quarterfinal game on Sunday, February 17, at 1pm, at the Sports & Recreation Center.
