STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (1/20/14) – Senior guard Ali Mix scored 23 points to lead the Kean University men's basketball team in scoring for the third-straight game, but the Cougars dropped an 83-72 matchup at the College of Staten Island on Monday.

The Dolphins rode a 55 percent first half shooting percentage to a 49-31 lead at the break. Kean's defense improved dramatically in the final period and knocked down CSI's shooting percentage to 32 percent and an output of 34 points.

That defensive effort led to a dramatic shift in the second half, as the Cougars mounted a comeback and outscored the Dolphins 41-34 in the final 20 minutes. Kean (9-6) whittled the lead all the way down to four on a layup by Xavier Fuller with 10:06 to go in the game, but ultimately could not catch the Dolphins down the stretch.

Staten Island (13-2) was led by Bloochy Maglorie, who scored 22 points off the bench by going 4-of-6 from three-point range. Long-range shots were the key to the game, as the Cougars took 25 threes and made just six.

Fuller (16 points), Mike Burton (14) and Emmanuel Omowole (10) were also in double figures for Kean, and Kyle Latorre came off the bench to lead the team for the eighth time this season with nine rebounds.

The Cougars will resume NJAC play on Wednesday with a trip to Richard Stockton College to take on the Ospreys at 8 p.m.