STATEN ISLAND, NY – The College of Staten Island men's basketball team returned to East Coast Conference (ECC) play Friday night with a matchup against D'Youville University in Buffalo, N.Y. After a tightly contested first half, the Dolphins pulled away after the break, scoring 43 second-half points to secure a 77–70 ECC victory. The win improves CSI to 12–4 overall and 3–1 in conference play.

Despite the Saints scoring the opening points, Mitchell Wiggan quickly put the Dolphins on the board with a three-pointer to give CSI its first lead of the night. After the score was tied at five, D'Youville began to create some separation, taking a 13–7 lead with just under 12 minutes remaining in the first half. Asa Kone continued his strong presence in the paint, throwing down a dunk and adding another basket inside to cut the deficit to two, 13–11.

Each time the Saints attempted to pull away, the Dolphins responded. After D'Youville extended its lead to four, JJ Chestnut brought CSI back within two at 15–13. The hosts pushed the margin back to five, 18–13, but Brandon Torres connected from long range and Aaron Goldstein followed with a basket to tie the game at 18. Goldstein then converted an and-one opportunity to give the Dolphins a 19–18 lead with eight minutes remaining.

The Saints briefly regained the advantage, but Goldstein struck again with a three-pointer to put CSI back on top, 27–24. D'Youville maintained a narrow lead as the half wound down, until Andrew Benedict knocked down a three to even the score at 34 heading into halftime.

The second half opened with several quick lead changes before Kone and Goldstein helped CSI build a six-point advantage, 43–37. By the midway point of the period, the Dolphins had pushed their lead to a game-high 12 following a Torres layup, 62–50. CSI maintained control down the stretch, fending off any comeback attempts to seal the 77–70 victory.

Kone and Goldstein each recorded double-doubles in the win. Kone led the Dolphins with 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Goldstein added 15 points and 10 boards. Wiggan finished with 11 points and six rebounds, while Chestnut and Benedict chipped in nine points apiece. Chestnut also led the team with five assists.

The Dolphins will continue ECC play on Sunday, Jan. 11, when they face No. 2 Daemen (NY) in Amherst, NY, with tipoff scheduled for 2:00 PM.

GAME REPLAY