STATEN ISLAND, NY –  The College of Staten Island men's basketball team hosted D'Youville University at The Tank on Friday evening for the first of its final five regular-season home games. CSI erased a 10-point second-half deficit and sealed a thrilling 77–76 East Coast Conference (ECC) victory at the free-throw line, improving to 17–6 overall and 8–3 in conference play.

The Saints opened the night with a 5–0 run before Eric Tynes scored the Dolphins' first points. CSI quickly found its rhythm, using contributions from Andrew Benedict, Mitchell Wiggan, and JJ Chestnut to build an eight-point lead, 21–13, with eight minutes remaining in the first half. D'Youville responded with a surge to reclaim the advantage, turning the momentum in its favor and pushing the lead to 36–28. A late Benedict three-pointer trimmed the deficit, sending CSI into halftime trailing 36–31.

The Dolphins outscored the Saints 45–39 in the second half, setting up a dramatic finish. D'Youville opened the half with a dunk to extend its lead to seven and later stretched the margin to 10, 50–40, with 14 minutes remaining. Chestnut kept CSI within reach, going 4-for-4 from the free-throw line over two possessions to cut the deficit to six, 50–44. The Saints briefly pushed the lead back to seven, but the Dolphins continued to chip away.

After D'Youville took a 70–60 lead on a three-pointer, CSI ignited its comeback. Asa Kone converted a free throw, Chestnut knocked down a jumper, and Wiggan scored on consecutive possessions to pull the Dolphins closer. Aaron Goldstein completed an and-one to make it a two-point game with two minutes left, 72–70, and Wiggan followed with a pair of free throws to tie the score at 72.

The teams traded baskets down the stretch, with the score tied again at 74 before the Saints edged ahead on a free throw, 75–74. Chestnut tied the game with seven seconds remaining and then calmly converted the second free throw to give CSI the decisive 76–75 lead. A final defensive stand secured the one-point victory.

Chestnut led all scorers with 21 points, shooting 80 percent (4-5) from three-point range while adding three steals. Goldstein finished with 19 points and a team-high five assists, and Wiggan added 18 points and a team-leading eight rebounds. CSI shot 80 percent (16-20) from the free-throw line, including an impressive 92 percent (12-13) in the second half.

The College of Staten Island men's basketball team returns to The Tank on Sunday to host No. 4 Daemen University at 3:00 PM.