GAMEDAY: MEN'S BASKETBALL GOES FOR SEASON SWEEP OF FIREBIRDS WITH PLAYOFF SPOT WITHIN REACH

2/18/2023 8:00:00 AM

Washington D.C. - The College of Staten Island Men's Basketball Team plays the first of two conference games left on the schedule this afternoon as they take on the University of the District of Columbia. The Dolphins enter today's game 8-17 on the year and the Firebirds come in with a record of 10-13. The Dolphins took the win in the first meeting of the season at The Tank, but the Firebirds lead the all-time series 2-1 after sweeping the Dolphins last season. CSI comes in with a 6-8 conference record, good for sixth in the ECC. The Firebirds come in 8-6, but the Dolphins still have a chance to finish the season ahead of UDC earning them the right to host a first round playoff game.

The Dolphins last played on Tuesday against New Haven, and despite another career-high from Chris Velasquez, CSI fell by 23. UDC will be returning from a week off against the Dolphins today following a win against Queens College last Saturday. The win for the Firebirds was their fourth in five games, all coming against conference opponents.

Chris Velasquez scored 35 for a shorthanded Dolphins squad against the Chargers on Tuesday night, but the Dolphins offense sorely missed their leading scorer and rebounder, Messiah Mallory. Mallory scored 29 last time the Dolphins faced the Firebirds and JJ Chestnut added another 15. Michael Aiken leads UDC averaging 15.5 points per game and is shooting over 50% from the field. Also shooting over 50% from the field is Jahmir Marable-Williams who is scoring 12.2 per game. Aiken did not play the last time the Firebirds faced CSI and the Dolphins held Marable-Williams to just six points. Micah Campbell, the team's leading rebounder with 7.3 per game, was tied for the team lead in scoring against the Dolphins with 13 in the December matchup. Tevin Curtis also added another 13 in 28 minutes off the bench, but the advantage in shooting efficiency for the Dolphins was too much for the Firebirds to overcome.

Gametime - 1:00 PM
Location - Washington D.C.
All-Time Series - UDC leads, 2-1
Last Meeting - 12/6/22: CSI won, 74-63

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