After a trio of road losses to open the season, the College of Staten Island Men's Basketball team is hoping for some better fortunes in their home opener, as they get set to host future ECC-rival New York Tech to kick off the home portion of their 2019-20 tonight at The Tank at 7 pm. Something will have to give tonight, as NYIT is looking for their first victory as well, having opened the season at 0-5.
CSI VS. NEW YORK TECH AT-A-GLANCE
Matchup: College of Staten Island (0-3) vs. New York Tech (0-5)
Where: The Tank - 2800 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10314
Live Video: http://www.csidolphins.com/CSISportsNet
Live Stats: https://csidolphins.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Players to Watch (CSI): The Dolphins have been getting great production from senior
Adeola Latunji, who is averaging 18.3 points per game while leading the way with 4.7 rebounds per contest, eight total assists and five total steals, all team highs. Latunji is averaging 52.3% shooting from the floor, while the rest of the roster has struggled, connecting on just 29.4% (42-143).
Austin Mick is averaging eight markers per game and is tied for second on the team with four three-pointers.
Andrew Kartalis leads that department with five threes posted thus far. Kartalis is tied with
Joseph Zieris for third on the team with 4.0 rebounds per contest as well.
Chris Velasquez has been CSI's biggest contributor coming off of the bench, as he is averaging 21 minutes per game in a reserve role, posting 3.7 points and 2.3 rebounds.
Players to Watch (NYIT): The Bears have been cranking out the offense and have four players averaging in double figures, led by Jeffrey Hayden's 19 points per game. He is shooting 47% from the field and 20 of his 95 points this season have come from the line. He is also second on the squad with 5.6 rebounds per contest. Brendon Redondo is next on the docket with 10.8 points per, followed by Marcus Saint-Furcy's 10.7 per contest in two less games played. Collins Onyeike, who has appeared in four of NYIT's five games is the team leader with 5.8 rebounds per game to go with 10.3 points per contest. Redondo is easily the team leader from behind the arc, connecting on 10 three's in 30 attempts.
News & Notes: Tonight's meeting is the first-ever between the two sides, and is the fourth of four-straight games the Dolphins will play against NCAA Division II opponents to open the season. After tonight, CSI will play Johnson & Wales University on Saturday before another DII test against St. Thomas Aquinas on Saturday, November 30. Tonight is also the first of four-straight home games for the Dolphins after their first three games were on the road. CSI finished 10-2 at home last season after dropping their first two home games, so the team is on a 10-game home winning streak. NYIT is 0-2 on the road this season, having lost at Assumption College and Hofstra (they also dropped a neutral-site affair to St. Michael's). NYIT finished 3-24 a year ago and were just 1-13 on the road, and they haven't won on the road in their last seven games. CSI senior
Adeola Latunji is entering tonight's game with 992 career points, needing eight to become the 33rd player in CSI Basketball history to eclipse the 1,000-point plateau. He is coming off of a 28-point performance in his most recent outing at Southern New Hampshire on Sunday.
What's Next?: The Dolphins will be back in action on Saturday, when they face Johnson & Wales at 3 pm at The Tank. It will also be their first-ever meeting with them. NYIT will stay on the road and face Bentley University on Saturday as well with start time slated for 2:30 pm.
