New York, NY – Junior guard Rocco Rubino (Brooklyn, NY/Archbishop Molloy) scored a team high 18 points, shooting 12-of-13 from the free throw line, but the Hawks never recovered from a 13 point first half deficit as the drop an 82-73 decision to the Dolphins of the College of Staten Island in a CUNY Athletic conference men’s basketball game Friday night at the Hunter Sportsplex.

Tonight’s game started off with both teams struggling to get a basket as the first points weren’t scored until Dolphin center Michael Ledbetter converted on a layup at 17:18. Then Dolphin senior Christian Montervino caught on fire from downtown, draining five three’s to help build up a 14 point advantage which was eventually resulted in a 43-30 lead heading into halftime. Montervino led all scorers after one half with 19 points.

Hunter would fight back in the second half, going on a 14-4 run to bring them within a basket, 64-62 with 6:40 left in the game, but it wouldn’t be enough and the Dolphins take a big conference game victory away from the Hawks.

After his impressive first half, Montervino only scored one point in the second to finish with 20 points. Sophomore forward Jordan Young would end up as game’s leading scorer, finished with 27 points and a team high nine rebounds.

For Hunter, junior guard Maxwell Dubois (Hollywood, FL/Dillard) finished with a 14 rebounds, 13 point double-double, while freshman guard Eric Klingsberg (Queens, NY/Holy Cross) had 16 points off the bench and sophomore guard Mark Courtien (Pelham, NY/Pelham Memorial) contributed with 13 points.

The Hawks (7-11, 3-4 CUNYAC) will now prepare for Wednesday, when Medgar Evers (8-10, 2-4 CUNYAC) comes to the Sportsplex for a 7:00 p.m. conference game. Staten Island (10-8, 5-3 CUNYAC) now heads to Hoboken, NJ on Monday to face Stevens Institute of Technology at 7:00 p.m.