STATEN ISLAND, NY – The College of Staten Island men's basketball team is set to host Division I Wagner College in an exhibition matchup at the Tank on Saturday evening at 7:18 PM. The Dolphins and Seahawks have a long history of meetings dating back to CSI's time in Division III.

The first meeting between the two programs took place during the 1978-79 season, when the Dolphins fell to the Seahawks, 79-67. CSI would go on to capture just two victories over Wagner, during the 1983-84 and 1988-89 seasons.

After their 1999 meeting, the two programs took a hiatus from competition before resuming the series during the 2015-16 season. The teams met for three consecutive years before CSI began its transition to Division II. In their most recent meeting during the 2017-18 season, the Dolphins successfully defended their CUNYAC title with a 77-75 victory over Lehman College. Meanwhile, the Seahawks fell to LIU Brooklyn in the Northeast Conference (NEC) Championship before earning an appearance in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), where they faced Baylor University.

Since their last meeting, both programs have undergone significant changes. The Dolphins transitioned from Division III to Division II and joined the East Coast Conference (ECC), quickly establishing themselves as contenders in postseason play. Wagner, meanwhile, returned to the NEC Championship game during the 2021-22 season after two consecutive seasons without a postseason appearance. The Seahawks eventually found a way to advance to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, defeating Howard University in the First Four before falling to the University of North Carolina in the Round of 64.

This season, the Dolphins return seven players from last year's roster while welcoming eight newcomers as they look to strengthen their lineup for the 2026-27 campaign. Saturday's exhibition will mark the beginning of the season for CSI, which will officially open its schedule at the Tournament of Heroes on November 14 against Jefferson University.