JAMAICA, N.Y.— The York College men's basketball team lost in overtime by a score of 78-75 to rival the College of Staten Island at home on Tuesday evening.
 
In a thrilling game with 22 lead changes and several big runs on each side, the Cardinals would come up a bit short.
 
York's Jean Joseph saw a stellar line of 22 points, seven boards, six steals and four assists go to waste, while Ediwn Sainvil also chipped in 22 points with four assists and five steals.
 
The Dolphins were led by Christian Taylor with 15 points and Robert Rossiter, who had 14 points.
 
CSI held a small lead through most of the first half.  They maintained just a one-possession lead for the first 13 minutes of action, until York pulled ahead for the first time following a Moses McRae lay-up with 7:28 to go.  Staten Island quickly responded with a three from Rudy Lavanture and then and a lay-up by Rossiter to take a four-point lead—their largest advantage of the game.  York would pull ahead again by just one point a few minutes later, but CSI would go into the locker room with a three-point advantage.
 
The second half started out the same way the first half ended, with neither team able to get much separation. However, things started to turn in York's favor around the 17-minute mark when York exploded for a 17-0 run. The momentum shifted for York following a Jonathan Jones dunk, which was quickly followed by a Jean Joseph steal and lay-up that had the home crowd going wild.  Shortly after, Ryan Smart had two big blocks on consecutive possessions that led to two more fast break points for Joseph.  Smart and Sainvil followed with a bucket each to round out the run.
 
York's good vibes would be short-lived, as CSI responded with a 13-0 run, thanks in part to some sharpshooting by the Dolphins. Back-to-back three's from Rossiter and Edin Bracic help cut the York lead to 52-51 with just under nine minutes to play.  Staten Island would eventually tie the score at 53-53.
 
However, the momentum would shift once again.  A couple of York steals would set up some easy buckets and York scored seven straight to move ahead 60-53.  Once again, CSI would eventually cut the deficit to 61-60 with just 1:30 to go.  
 
The two teams exchanged buckets to make it 63-62 and on York's next possession, the Cardinals picked up a foul going for the rebound. Rossiter made both free throws to put his team up one with 25 seconds left. York would miss a shot on its next possession and the loose ball went out of bounds.  It looked like York would have to foul to stop the clock, but Jean Joseph stole the ball and was fouled going for a lay-up.  He missed the first shot but made the second to tie the score at 64-64.  With just a few ticks left, Staten Island would get off a good look, but the shot would go off the front rim to set up overtime.
 
The Cardinals got the early lead in overtime after four straight points from Sainvil. However, CSI eventually pulled ahead thanks to strong free throw shooting.  They led by three with 14 seconds left.  On York's next possession, Darin Dove was fouled on a three-point attempt, giving him a chance to tie the game on the free throw line. Dove missed the first and made the next two to make it 76-75.  The Cardinals were forced to foul and sent Raymond Savage to the line with 4.7 seconds left.  Savage drained both to put his team up by three again (78-75). On York's final possession, Dove got a good look on a three-pointer for the tie, but the shot rimmed out as the buzzer sounded.
 
York falls to 1-5, 0-2 CUNYAC, while Staten Island improves to 3-4, 2-0 CUNYAC. York will visit Medgar Evers on Friday at 7 p.m.