Esonwune’s Near Triple-Double Lifts York to Big Win Over CSI
Box Score
STATEN ISLAND, NY– York College senior Marcel Esonwune came within one block of a triple-double, scoring 21 points, collecting 15 rebounds and blocking nine shots to lead the Cardinals basketball team to a key 70-58 triumph over the College of Staten Island on Monday night.
Staten Island (14-7, 9-2 CUNYAC), who came into the game atop the CUNY Athletic Conference, had beaten York handily in their previous meeting this season by a score of 76-51. However, the Cardinals got the best of the Dolphins this time around.
York (7-15, 5-5 CUNYAC) jumped out to an 11-point cushion midway through the first half. After leading by five points (12-7), sophomore Shamir Wilkinson drained a three-pointer and York made three free throws on its next two possessions to go up 18-7. The Dolphins rallied later in the half, scoring eight unanswered points and tied the game at 22-22 following a Louis Valdes lay-up. CSI briefly went up by one point right before halftime, but York closed the half with a pair of free throws by Kevin Lausell and then a lay-up by Ike Iwu to go into the locker room with the lead (30-27).
In the second half, York extended its lead to nine points after an Iwu steal led to a lay-up by William Holley, making the score 41-32 with 15:22 to play. The Cardinals maintained a comfortable lead until the Dolphins' Bloochy Magliore drained a shot from beyond the arc, making the score 54-52 with just 5:01 left in the contest.
That would be as close as CSI could get though. Esonwune made a lay-up on York's next possession and the Cardinals didn't look back. They were able to extend their lead to as many as ten points. A Lausell lay-up with 29 seconds put them up 66-56 to seal the victory.
Holley finished with 14 points, nine boards and five assists, while Lausell added 12 points. Wilkinson had a solid game, netting nine points and collecting eight rebounds. The Dolphins were led by Valdes who recorded a game-high 20 points on 7-11 shooting. Magliore added 13 points to pace Staten Island.
York will return to action Wednesday when they take on rival Brooklyn College at 7:30 p.m.
