Riverdale, N.Y. – After defeating two-time defending Skyline Conference Champion Purchase 61-45 on Tuesday night, the College of Mount Saint Vincent Men's Basketball team has advanced to the semifinal round against second seeded St. Joseph's-L.I. The Dolphins and Golden Eagles will tip-off at 7:00 p.m. Thursday night in Patchogue, N.Y. with Live Stats available for those who cannot attend the game.
 
History
The Men' Basketball program advanced to the semifinal round of the Skyline Conference Tournament for the first time under head coach Brian Nigro '00 following a 61-45 win over Purchase on Tuesday night.
 
The Dolphins are competing in their fourth Skyline Conference Tournament in seven seasons under Nigro, scoring their first win in the event Tuesday night. Previously under Nigro, the Mount has been eliminated in the quarterfinal round in 2009, 2011 and 2012.
 
A Look At The Dolphins
Mount Saint Vincent enters Thursday night's game at 18-8 overall, posting the most wins in a season in seven seasons under Nigro. The Dolphins opened the campaign with six straight wins, posting the best start to a season since winning their first 10 games to open the 2010-11 season. The Mount finished that season 15-11, marking the only other winning season under Nigro.
 
Mount Saint Vincent is led by seniors James Zuccaro (Gilbert, Ariz.) and Antonio Johnson (Fort Johnson, N.Y.) who are the only players to average in double-figures on the season. Zuccaro paces the Dolphins with 17.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per outing and is shooting 46.9-percent from the floor.
 
Johnson is good for just shy of 13 points per game during his senior season, making a team-high 51 three-point field goals and shooting better than 41-percent from bonus distance. Johnson is tied for second on the team with 52 assists and is second on the squad with 27 steals. Johnson is shooting 44.7-percent from the floor overall in 24 games played and is tied with Zuccaro for the team lead in free-throw percentage at 81.8-percent.
 
Freshman Ammad Alkhulaidi (Brooklyn, N.Y.) is third on the team in scoring with 9.8 points per game and posted a game-high 19 points in the Mount's quarterfinal contest against Purchase. He is tied with Zuccaro for the team lead in double-doubles with five, leads the team in blocked shots with 39 and assists with 58. He is currently second on the team in rebounding, good for just over seven caroms an outing.
 
Through 26 games in 2014-15, Mount Saint Vincent is outscoring its opponents by four points a game and is shooting 42.4-percent from the floor. The Mount holds a +2.1 turnover margin heading into Thursday's tilt and are converting at just under 70-percent as a team from the free-throw line.
 
Scouting St. Joseph's-L.I.
The Golden Eagles are the only conference opponent the Dolphins did not score a victory against during the regular season, falling in Riverdale by a score of 73-68 on January 15 and falling on the road 92-58 on February 14.
 
St. Joseph's is led by Sean McCarthy who is good for 16.1 points per game and is a 48.9-percent shooter from the floor. Andy Laurent is good for 13.6 points per night with Fernando Vazquez chipping in with 13.4 points per game. McCarthy is the team's top rebounder, securing just under seven boards per game, while Nick Gallina is handing out better than five assists per contest.
 
The Golden Eagles are shooting 44.1-percent from the floor as a team, but just 22.3-percent from behind the arc. The team averages 10.1 offensive rebounds per night and 13 assists per outing.
 
How The Dolphins Advanced
Mount Saint Vincent scored an impressive 61-45 win over Purchase on Tuesday night at the Peter Jay Sharp Center. The Dolphins held Purchase to 39.1-percent shooting and a 2-for-15 effort from behind the arc, allowing just 13 first half points to the Panthers.
 
Alkhulaidi led three players in double-figures with a game-high 19 points, adding eight rebounds and four assists. Zuccaro contributed 14 points and eight rebounds and Mike Mulligan (Pearl River, N.Y.) scored a career-high 12 points and led the team with five assists.
 
The Dolphins shot 46.3-percent from the floor and better than 47-percent from behind the arc and totaled 16 assists on 25 made field-goals.
 
The Series
Since the start of the 2003-04 season, Mount Saint Vincent and St. Joseph's have met 23 times, including twice in the conference tournament. The Golden Eagles have won 19 of the 23 meetings, including both regular season matchups this season.
 
Mount Saint Vincent has split two conference tournament contests, winning 89-76 in 2004-05 and falling 68-60 in 2010-11. The Golden Eagles won 14 straight meetings from 2005-06 through 2011-12.
 
What's Next
The winner of tonight's semifinal will take on the winner of Sage and Old Westbury for a chance to represent the conference in the NCAA Tournament. For updated scores and statistics you can check in to the Skyline Conference's Championship Central Page.