Box Score Less than 24 hours after they dropped a heartbreaking overtime decision against Eastern Mennonite University, the College of Staten Island men's basketball team rebounded with a defensive 61-55 stand against Montclair State University in the consolation round of the Hampton Inn Tip-Off Tournament on the campus of Mary Washington University.  CSI lifted its mark to 1-1 with the win, while the Red Hawks dropped to 0-2.

Unlike their loss a day earlier, CSI had the luxury of leading wire to wire in this contest.  CSI's Kevin King got the scoring opened with a fast break layup and from there, CSI would never surrender the lead.  The game, however, was pretty typical of one in their series: a tough defensive battle that was close throughout.

A couple of baskets by junior Louis Valdes, including a three gave CSI an 11-4 lead less than five minutes in, but in a recurring theme of the day, MSU had an answer.  A Kris Bergstol layup knocked CSI's lead down to one five minutes later, and after Andrew Cannon made it a six point game for CSI at 22-16 with 8:24 left, the Hawks rallied for a 10-4 run over the next six minutes to knot the game at 26-26.  CSI responded with a modest, 6-3, run in the final three-plus minutes, including another cannon basket near the buzzer to give CSI a 32-29 lead at the break. 

A 7-0 run by the Dolphins gave them their one and only double-digit lead, 44-34, a little under five minutes into the second frame, highlighted by another Cannon three and two transition lay-ups by junior Javon Cox.  It took over seven minutes, but again the Hawks responded, this time with a 15-5 run to knot the score at 49-49 with 8:17 remaining on an Angel Gonzalez basket.  Inside baskets by Matt Van Manen and Dylan Bulger got CSI back on top and the Dolphins never let go from there, keeping a one of two possession advantages from there before finishing the game on a 4-0 run to win by six, 61-55.  A smothering CSI defense held MSU to just two total shots in the final three minutes, forcing a pair of Hawks turnovers as well.

Cox led all CSI scorers with 12 points, adding six rebounds.  Cannon finished with 11 markers while Van Manen led CSI with 11 rebounds.  Gonzalez led the Red Hawks with 15 points, while Daniel Singleton and Erick Lofton-Harris each had 10.  Ordel Goldson had 10 rebounds.  CSI held MSU to just 39.3% shooting including an abysmal 11.8% (2-17) from beyond the arc.

CSI is idle until Wednesday, November 20, travelling to FDU-Florham to take on the Rams at 7pm in Madison, New Jersey.