Bronx, NY | Lehman College was able to open up an otherwise even affair midway through the second half and then held on the rest of the way, surviving the College of Staten Island by an 87-75 count at The Apex. Lehman improved to 13-9 overall with the win, while the Dolphins fell to 8-14.
It was a game that featured eight lead changes and eight ties tonight, set up by a relative stalemate at the end of the halftime intermission.
Isaiah Geathers had a big night for Lehman, starting the game off with a three, and Lehman extended to a 7-2 lead in the early stages. The Lightning would go up by as many as six on three occasions, but an 8-2 CSI answer, guided by a three-point play and then a routine three by
Austin Mick, got CSI even at 18-18 with 13:09 to go in the frame.
The teams went back and forth, and it wasn't until the 8:50 mark where CSI took their first lead on a lay-up by
Rigaud Destime to make it 26-25. Lehman responded to go up by five again until CSI clawed back and after tying,
Adeola Latunji drained three shots, all after Lehman baskets to ensure the game stayed tied at 41-41 going into the break.
CSI would grab another lead thanks to Latunji in the second half, and extended to as many as four on three instances, the final time on an
Andrew Kartalis three that made it 57-54 with 13:11 left to play. That is, however, when Lehman made their move. A Will Feldman three started a 14-0 run over the next five minutes for Lehman, as Feldman put up the final five points in the run as well to stake Lehman to a 68-57 lead that it would never return.
From there, it was all about keeping CSI at distance for the Lightning and they did so. CSi made a mini 7-2 run to close the game to 81-73 with just 2:33 remaining, but down the stretch, Lehman was able to sink their free-throws, making 5-of-6 down the stretch to secure the win.
Lehman shot a blistering 63.8% from the field (30-47), led by Geathers' 31 points, adding seven rebounds. Gian Batista poured in 15 points with 12 rebounds, while Feldman notched 15 points. Lehman also shot 10-15 from three-point range (67%). For CSI, Latunji led the way with 27 points, adding six rebounds. Kartalis poured in 20 points. The Dolphins' however, shot just 37.7% (29-77) and just 7-27 from beyond the arc (25.9%).
CSI will now have to look to get back in the win column on Monday, when they travel to face Brooklyn College for a 7:15 PM tip.
