HOBOKEN, N.J. (December 3, 2011) – Junior guard Russ Thompson (West Orange, N.J.) hit six three-pointers and scored 20 points but it was not enough as the College of Staten Island men's basketball team downed Stevens Institute of Technology, 65-59, Saturday afternoon in Canavan Arena. With the win, CSI improves to 4-2 overall, while Stevens drops to 5-2 with the loss.
Despite shooting 23.5 percent (8-for-34) from the floor and 35.7 percent from long range, Stevens ended the first with a 27-24 lead. Much of the credit was due to Thompson who canned four of his six attempts from the floor and went 3-for-5 from three-point land, pouring in 11 points in 18 minutes.
CSI scored the first seven points of the afternoon before a three-pointer from senior guard Michael Cutri (West Caldwell, N.J.) got the Ducks on the board 2:27 into the action. Stevens battled and battled, hanging close until finally taking the lead with 2:37 to play in the half following a free throw from sophomore forward Kevin McManamy (Charlotte, N.C.).
Five of the Ducks' eight field goals in the first half came from behind the arc and Stevens hit 6-of-9 at the free-throw line. The Dolphins hit on 10-of-31 from the field and 3-of-8 at the line. They were 1-for-5 from three and ended the opening period with a 28-24 edge on the glass.
The Ducks pushed their lead to seven (31-24) 2:07 into the second half but the Dolphins came back with eight unanswered to go back on top with 13 minutes to go. The two teams went back-and forth over the next two-plus before another 8-0 run from the Dolphins gave the visitors the upper hand with less than nine minutes remaining.
Down eight (48-40) with eight and change left, Stevens went on a 9-2 spurt to trim the margin to one (50-49) and eventually tied things at 56, but the Dolphins received big plays down the stretch from sophomore forward Matthew Van Manen (Staten Island, N.Y.) and senior guard TJ Tibbs (Staten Island, N..Y.). Van Manen hit a go-ahead layup with 1:14 left and Tibbs recorded a four-point play with 32 seconds left to seal the win for the Dolphins.
CSI ended with a 50-33 rebounding advantage and shot 41.4 percent (24-for-58) from the floor. The Dolphins hit 4-of-14 (28.6 percent) three-pointers and 13-of-18 (72.2 percent) at the line. They were led by Magloire, senior forward Jordan Young (Asbury Park, N.J.) and junior center Dylan Bulger (Staten Island, N.Y.) who all finished in double figures. Bulger also had a team-high 11 rebounds.
Stevens finished 20-for-62 (32.3 percent) from the floor and 8-for-26 (30.8 percent) from three. The Ducks hit 11 of their 16 (68.8 percent) free-throw attempts.
Thompson added three rebounds and two assists to his 20 points and senior forward Simon Smith (Cranford, N.J.) had 14 points and 11 rebounds for his sixth double-double in seven games.
Stevens will return to the hardwood on Tuesday night at the United States Merchant Marine Academy. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.
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