FREDERICKSBURG, VA – The College of Staten Island men's basketball team opened the season with a battle against Easter Mennonite at the Hampton Inn South Tip-Off Tournament. However, despite its best efforts, the Runnin' Royals' RJ Sims nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer of regulation to force the game into overtime, where they went on to defeat the Dolphins, 95-93, Saturday.

While both teams loaded with newcomers, and in a game full of fouls and turnovers, the Runnin Royals were able to get the early edge as they jumped to a 10-2 lead.  They led by as many as 13 in the first 20 minutes, only to see Staten Island get within seven at halftime, 40-33.

Eastern Mennonite still led 66-53 with 9:48 to go before CSI mounted a comeback.  The Dolphins held EMU scoreless over the next three minutes and put in 12 straight to slice the lead to one point.  They took their first lead at the 4:56 mark, and then pushed it to 80-72 after two free throws with 53 seconds left, capping a 27-6 run.

That's when the Royals caught fire from outside.  RJ Sims canned a three, and after a CSI bucket, Ryan Yates nailed a triple to get within 82-78 with 22 seconds to go.  Staten Island's Frankie Schettino made one of two free throws, and Sims bombed another three ball to get the men within a pair with 10 seconds left.

Schettino again made just one of two free throws with eight seconds left, setting up Sims' buzzer-beating triple to send it to OT locked at 84-84.  Led by the senior's trio of three pointers, EMU outscored CSI 12-4 over the final 46 seconds of regulation.

Yates hit a longball for the first score of overtime.  The Royals held the slight edge until Schettino buried three free throws to put the Dolphins up 93-92 with 1:20 left.

Chris Yoder hit the first of two free throws to re-tie the game with 45 seconds to go, but David Falk's offensive rebound set up another free throw situation.  Yates hit one of two, giving EMU a 94-93 edge.  CSI's Andrew Cannon missed a jumper and fouled Sims just six seconds later sending him to the line. At the charity stripe, Sims made just one of two tosses with 17 seconds left to leave the lead at two, but Yates picked out a steal in the final second to seal the win.

The game featured a combined 62 turnovers, 58 fouls and four foul-outs.  CSI out-shot EMU 49% to 43%, but the Runnin' Royals made up the difference by going 12-of-29 from three point land for 41%, and grabbing 26 offensive rebounds for a 60-45 win in the battle of the boards.

Schettino led all scorers with 26 points, four assists, three boards and two steals. Adding to the Dolphins' point total was Khari Rollock, who came off the bench to tally 21 points, while Cannon posted a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Matt Van Manen and Kevin King each added 10 points, respectively.

Leading the way for EMU was Yates, who finished with 24 points and five steals, both career highs.  Sims was 5-for-7 from the outside and was good for 21 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals.  The duo combined for 23 of EMU's final 27 points.

The Dolphins will now play Montclair State at 1pm, Sunday.

www.csidolphins.com

Portions of this game recap courtesy of Eastern Mennonite Sports Information.