BRONX, N.Y. – The Lehman College men's basketball team dropped a heart breaker to the College of Staten Island on Tuesday night, 72-68. CSI had led by as many as 13 points before Lehman rallied to capture the lead late in the second half. Lehman was unable to hang onto the lead though, as the Dolphins, who sit atop the CUNY Athletic Conference at 5-0, took the win.

Lehman (6-7, 1-3 CUNYAC) took its first lead of the game with 7:27 remaining in the second half, when junior swingman Kelvin Gil (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Hayes) made a jumper, making the score 58-57. Gil would score five consecutive points for Lehman, and, with 4:19 remaining, Lehman had a two-point lead, 63-61.

A Staten Island (8-2 overall) layup by Kevin King tied the score, before Dylan Bulger gave CSI the lead again, making one of his two free throws.

On the ensuing possession, junior guard Erasmo Soto (Harlem, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) put the Lightning ahead once again, driving the lane for a layup.

But CSI's inside-outside offense once again burned Lehman, as shooting guard Jon Chadwick-Myers made a three-pointer, his seventh of the game, giving the Dolphins the lead back, 67-65, with 1:11 to go.

CSI would build the lead to four points before Lehman senior forward Anthony Rodriguez (Bronx, N.Y./Roosevelt) hit a three-pointer with 2.2 seconds to go, cutting the lead to a single point. Lehman fouled CSI's Bloochy Magloire, who finished with 17 points, who missed the first, but made his second free throw. The score was now 70-68, in favor of CSI.

Then, chaos ensued.

On the inbounds pass, Rodriguez threw the ball deep downcourt, where the ball went out of bounds. CSI would inbound the ball, get fouled, and Magloire would convert both free throws with 1.4 seconds to play, for the 72-68 victory.

Leading all scorers was CSI's Chadwick-Myers, who hit eleven baskets, including the already mentioned seven three-pointers, for 29 points. Bulger, who stands 6'11", was a major factor in the game for CSI, scoring 14 points while grabbing 13 rebounds.

For Lehman, Kelvin Gil, who was so vital during the comeback stretch in the second half, had 22 points to lead the way. He made eight of 14 shots from the field, including five of ten from beyond the arc. Rodriguez added 14 points in the effort. Junior forward Stanley Stephens (New York, N.Y./Manhattan Center) and freshman Driton Hasangjekaj (Bronx, N.Y./DeWitt Clinton) each added eight points. Stephens led in rebounding with nine, including four on the offensive glass.

The Lightning are in the midst of a rough stretch, hosting three CUNYAC games in a span of five days. John Jay comes calling on Thursday evening, for a 7:15 tip, before City College visits the Bronx on Saturday, January 12.