Staten Island, NY | In a game that featured nine lead changes, eight ties, and a series of runs that seemed at times to put the game on ice, it was the College of Staten Island Men's Basketball team that got the final word, as they defeated visiting Lehman College by a score of 69-66, their second win in the last three games.  CSI, which trailed by as many as 10 points in the second half, improved to 6-10 overall, while Lehman fell to 8-7.

The two teams sparred for the better part of the opening 10 minutes through a series of lead switches, with neither side going up by more than a possession or two.  A lay-up by Adeola Latunji secured an 11-8 lead for CSI at the 13:52 mark, but from there, Lehman used a strong transition game and their inside presence to do damage.  A lay-in by Basheeru Camara followed by an Ocean Scott three gave Lehman a 17-13 edge, and Scott followed with another transition score to pull the visitors up 20-13, completing a 12-2 run.

After going up by seven points again later in the frame, CSI hit back, using two Latunji baskets, one a three, and an Austin Mick three to take back a 25-24 lead with 5:54 to go in the frame, and CSI grew the lead to as many as five via the free-throw line, part of a 13-0 run.

The Dolphins seems to be in good control of the frame, up 34-26 with 2:41 to play in the half, but Lehman had other ideas, and they reeled off a numbing 13-0 run to end the frame and go into the lockers up, 39-34, highlighted by three three-pointers, two alone from Mo Idrissou.

The run did not end there.  After CSI scored the opening second half basket, LC reeled off the next six points, lifting to a 45-36 lead on a lay-up by Gian Batista.  On three occasions, the Lightning hit a 10-point edge, the final time on an Idrissou drive that made it 55-45 with 11:13 to play.  An Andrew Kartalis three cut the lead to 57-52 and at 6:49, a three by Joseph Zieris made it a one-score game, 59-57.  The Dolphins did not relent and after tying the score, Zieris again capitalized on a drive that gave CSI their first lead of the half, at 5:21, 61-59.  The teams parried back-and-forth until a Tommy Batista straight-away three made it 66-63 at 3:51 to play.  They did not know it at the time, but Lehman would fail to score again, leaving the door open for CSI to take the game.

After a pair of empty trips up the floor for both sides, CSI pulled to within one, 66-65, on a Latunji jumper at 2:08, and then after a turnover and a pair of misses both ways, CSI's Zieris was fouled with 41 seconds to play.  At the line shooting a one-and-one opportunity, Zieris calmly sank both free throws over a hushed crowd, giving CSI the 67-66 edge.  Gian Batista would miss a jumper the other way and forced to foul with 23 seconds left, Austin Mick then went to the line, and he too made his two enormous free-throws to give CSI the 69-66 lead with 23 ticks to play.  Lehman managed to get off three shots in the closing moments but the last two three-point attempts, by Gian and Tommy Batista, respectively, were way off of the mark as CSI was able to weather the storm and hang on for the win.

CSI was led by Zieris' 20 points and 9 rebounds, adding three blocks and a steal as well.  Mick and Latunji each posted 18 points, with Mick adding three steals and Latunji five rebounds.  For Lehman, they were steadied by 12 points each from Idrissou, who added five rebounds and Scott.  Gian Batista posted 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Camara added 10 points as well.  CSI shot a crisp 48.1% from the field and exacted 76.9% of their free-throws (10-13).  Lehman shot 41.8% (28-67), but were just 5-19 from beyond the arc (26.3%) and just 5-10 from the free-throw line.  Lehman did hold a 42-28 edge on the glass, including a 16-3 advantage on the offensive glass, leading to 13 more shots taken.

After playing five games in an 11-day stretch, CSI will now sit idle until a week from tonight, when they travel to face the defending CUNYAC-Champion Baruch College Bearcats on the road on Wednesday, January 22, with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 PM.

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