STATEN ISLAND, NY – The College of Staten Island men's basketball team continues East Coast Conference (ECC) play on Saturday evening in Sparkill, NY, as they take on St. Thomas Aquinas College. The Dolphins are looking to snap a nine-game losing streak against the Spartans; their only win in the series came during the 1978–79 season, an 87–82 victory in Staten Island.

In their most recent meeting on Feb. 15, 2025, the Dolphins trailed 47–37 at halftime before ultimately falling 94–83. Three returning players played key roles in that matchup: JJ Chestnut led CSI with 18 points, six rebounds, and six assists, followed by Aaron Goldstein with 17 points and Mitchel Wiggan with 10 points and three steals.

The Dolphins enter the game at 5–3, one win ahead of the 4–3 Spartans. Both teams picked up victories in their ECC openers: CSI rolled to a 90–70 win over Mercy with four players scoring in double figures, while St. Thomas Aquinas edged District of Columbia, 71–67.

The Spartans feature five players averaging double-digit scoring, while the Dolphins have three—Goldstein (21.4), Chestnut (12.5), and Wiggan (10.6). Despite the scoring gap, CSI has consistently dominated defensively with Asa Kone leading the Dolphins with 9.1 rebounds per game and seven blocks on the season. Freshman Andrew Benedit has also emerged recently, recording his first career double-double against Mercy with 10 points and 14 rebounds, the highest total on the team in that game.