STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Opening the week on the road, the Queens College men's basketball team matched up against the College of Staten Island Dolphins inside the Sports and Recreation Center in East Coast Conference play Wednesday evening.
Four Knights scored in double figures, led by senior forward
Tahj-Malik Campbell (Philadelphia, PA), who poured in a game-high 22 points. Rookie forward
Henri Mennander (Helsinki, Finland) added 12 points, sophomore guard
Lleyton Fried (Harrisburg, PA) chipped in 12 points, and junior guard
Dontae Prescott (Coney Island, N.Y.) finished with 10 points.
With the game tied at 64–64 and 2:47 remaining, CSI closed the contest on an 8–6 run, edging Queens 72–70.
GAME RECAP
Led by four points from Mennander and triples from Fried and junior guard
Johnny Jones (Bronx, N.Y.), Queens jumped out to a 10–5 lead.
After the Dolphins responded with a 4–0 run, the Knights answered with a 5–0 spurt, sparked by a three-pointer from Campbell and a jumper from sophomore guard
Tyler Michel (Cambria Heights, N.Y.) to take a 15–9 advantage by the 15:49 mark.
Balanced scoring kept Queens in front, 15–11, at the under-16 media timeout (13:41) as the Knights shot 50.0 percent from the field (6-of-12). Both teams traded baskets over the next two minutes, with Queens maintaining a 19–15 lead by the under-12 media timeout (11:53).
A brief scoring drought allowed CSI to go on a 6–0 run and take a 21–19 lead.
Mennander snapped the drought with his third basket of the half at the 8:06 mark, tying the game at 21–21, before a three-pointer from Prescott put Queens back in front, 24–21. Timely buckets kept the Knights ahead, 29–26, heading into the under-four media timeout (3:55).
With Queens leading 32–28 at the 2:58 mark, the Dolphins responded with a 5–1 run to tie the contest at 33–33 with 1:07 remaining in the half. However, the Knights closed the half strong, finishing on a 7–2 run to take a 40–35 lead into the break.
Campbell opened the second half with a strong start, pushing the Queens lead to eight, 44–36, by the 17:28 mark. After a CSI three cut the margin to five, Mennander answered with a layup to make it 46–39 just before the under-16 media timeout (16:11).
A personal 5–0 run by Fried extended the Knights' advantage to double digits, 51–41, at the 14:10 mark. Campbell followed with five straight points to cap the run and give Queens a 56–41 lead at 12:50.
CSI responded with four quick points to trim the advantage to 56–45 by the under-12 media timeout (11:32).
Prescott knocked down a jumper at 11:11 to make it 58–45, but the Dolphins answered with a 9–0 run to close within four, 58–54, forcing a Queens timeout at 8:08. The run continued as CSI scored 17 unanswered points, taking a 62–58 lead with six minutes remaining.
Mennander broke the drought with a layup at 4:52, pulling Queens within two, 62–60. Fried later traded free throws to keep the Knights within one possession, 64–62, before Campbell converted two free throws to tie the game at 64–64 with 2:47 left.
CSI responded with a decisive 6–0 run to regain the lead, holding on late to secure a 72–70 victory.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Campbell recorded his team-leading ninth double-double of the season with 22 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block.
- Mennander posted his seventh double-double of the year, finishing with 12 points, 11 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks.
- Fried totaled 12 points with two rebounds, and one assist.
- Prescott finished with 10 points, three steals, three rebounds and one assist.
NEXT GAME
The Knights return home on Saturday, January 31, welcoming the University of the District of Columbia Firebirds for ECC action. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
For the latest news on Queens College Athletics, follow the Knights at queensknights.com or via social media on Facebook (Queens College Athletics), X Athletics Main Account (@QCKnights), Queens College MBB (QCKnightsMBB) and Instagram (qcknightsny), men's basketball (qcmensbball).
