Staten Island, NY |  John Jay College overturned an early deficit, then was able to keep the College of Staten Island at bay down the stretch, as they claimed a 66-59 win over the Dolphins in Staten Island to take the two-game season series between the two teams.  CSI fell to 6-12 overall with the loss, while the Bloodhounds lifted to 13-5.

In the early season meeting between the two sides, CSI had a long 15-minute scoreless stretch that interrupted an otherwise even game, and tonight history repeated itself when the Dolphins went on a couple of long cold spells, once in each half, to put a damper on an otherwise back-and-forth game that could have went either way.

As they did in Manhattan earlier this season, CSI started out very strong, as a James Delahanty three opened play, and even after JJC scored the next two baskets, Joseph Zieris posted a lay-up that gave CSI the lead that it would hold for the next 12 minutes.  Rigaud Destime free-throws and later an Austin Mick lay-up gave CSI a 17-11 lead at 12:32, and CSI would later match the six-point lead, 22-16 at 10:04. 

From there, however, CSI hit a snag.  The Dolphins would go on to miss their next 11 shots, and were held to just a single free-throw over the next 6:33, as John Jay pieced together a 16-1 run to take a 32-23 lead with three and a half minutes to go until the halftime break.  JJC hit on four three-pointers in the run, the last two by Doug Levy to do a host of the damage.  Needing a lift, CSI was able to post a 7-0 run to end the half, as Adeola Latunji drained a three and at the buzzer, Delahanty was able to tip-in a miss to make it 32-30 at the half.

Six lead changes then dictated the first five-plus minutes of the second half as the teams traded baskets and sharp play.  Down one, Destime would split a pair of free-throws and then drain a jumper after a defensive stand to give CSI a 38-36 lead at 15:11.  It would, however, prove to be CSI's final lead of the game, as the Dolphins again went silent.  CSI would go 0-6 from the floor, 0-2 at the free-throw line and commit six turnovers over the next 6:47 of the game, and JJC took advantage, posting a 13-0 run to take a commanding 49-38 lead with 7:45 to go.

CSI tried in vain to come back from there, after trading shots, Austin Mick would drain a three with 5:45 to go to cut the deficit to 51-45.  CSI had their chances, as John Jay could not score on their next three possessions, but could not capitalize as the Bloodhounds finally responded to go up again.  The Dolphins began to put the Bloodhounds at the line inside of two minutes to play but the Bloodhounds were up to the task, posting 9-10 from the line during that span to ultimately prevail, 66-59.

Leading the way in victory for JJC was Jayson Brower who popped in 20 points to go with a team-high 12 rebounds, adding three assists.  Angel Rivera chimed in with 12 points while Levy finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double as well.  Mick led the way for CSI with 13 points adding five rebounds, while Zieris finished with 12 points a team-high 11 rebounds.  The Bloodhounds shot just 33.9% from the field (21-62), while CSI posted 40.7% (22-54).  The Bloodhounds, however, enjoyed a 42-35, lead on the boards, including a 14-5 edge on the offensive glass, and were a +5 in the turnover column (18-13).

Now on a two-game slide, CSI will look to get back in the win column on Tuesday, January 28, 2020, when they travel to face City College of New York for a 7 PM start.

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