STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Patrick Tucker tied a career high with 22 points and also starred on the defensive end after drawing two charges as CSI/McCown remained red-hot in PSAL 3A division play with a 62-57 victory over host McKee/Staten Island Tech on Thursday in New Dorp.

In addition to Tucker, the Dragons received big contributions from Xavier Farley (14 points, 16 rebounds, six blocks) and Danny O’Connor (11 points, six assists). The Dragons, who won for the fifth time in six games, improved to 10-8 overall and forged a third-place tie with MSIT (7-4) in league play. CSIM clinched a city playoff spot with the victory.

Nizayah Jordan (15 points), Dalton Cherubin (13 points) and Terence Legrand (12 points, three treys) paced the Seagulls (12-7 overall).

“I’m beyond extremely proud of this group. They endured a 4-21 season last year, which ended in the tragic death of our captain Marcus Nuamah,’’ said CSIM head coach Danny Lee. ”We set a goal before the season to honor (Nuamah) by returning to the city playoffs and all pre-season they worked as a family to attain this goal.

“This is our fourth trip to the city playoffs in the last five years, but it’s by far the sweetest because most publications predicted us to finish dead last in the division and Island, but every single coach and player in that locker room believed otherwise.’’

Tucker, who finished with a career-high five three-pointers, scored 20 points through the first three periods to help give the visitors a 48-45 advantage.

“Tucker played amazing,’’ praised Lee of his senior. ”Along with O’Connor, he’s one of our co-captains and he’s really stepped up leadership-wise over the last month. But most importantly, he’s taken the initiative to put his body on the line for the team.

“He took his 11th charge in the last six games,’’ Lee continued. ”He was also on fire from the three-point line tonight as well.’’

Although the Seagulls stayed within striking distance, Saed Gheith scored five points and the Dragons connected on 8 of 12 freebies in the fourth to help CSIM hold on.

NOTES: Daniel Zajonc chipped in with eight points for the Dragons, who finished with nine three-pointers overall. In addition to Tucker, O’Connor and Zajonc buried two threes apiece … Farley finished 8 for 13 from the free-throw line ….. Lee was deeply touched after MSIT head coach Charlie Donohue presented him with a basketball and banner commemorating him becoming CSIM’s all-time winningest coach. “Charlie’s just a class act and the reason why sports matters so much to the youth and history on this Island,’’ said Lee. ”What a nice gesture.’’

New Dorp 73, Eagle Academy SI 44

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Junior Sergio Batista led a balanced attack with 17 points and the Centrals inched closer to the PSAL 3A division crown with the victory over visiting Eagle on Thursday.

In addition to Batista, Omari Onwe (16 points), Elijah Pizarro (11 points, three treys) and Josh Carter (10 points) also contributed offensively for the Centrals. (13-4 overall). ND improved its first-place record to 9-1 in division play.

Armani Perez tallied 12 points while Juneek Daniels and Anthony Riley added 11 points apiece for Eagle (6-12 overall, 3-8 PSAL 3A).

Onwe and Batista teamed for 15 first-quarter points as the Centrals raced to a 22-9 advantage by the period’s end and they never looked back.

Tottenville 62, Port Richmond 49

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Elias Souleidis scored a career-high 23 points and the Pirates snapped a three-game losing streak by pulling away late to register the PSAL 3A victory over the host Raiders on Thursday.

In addition to Souleidis, Shiloh Ezderman and Nicholas Picinic tallied 10 points apiece for the Pirates, who improved to 11-7 overall. They also upped their second-place record to 8-3 in the Island’s PSAL division.

Mekhi Hines and Dyshawn Cartagena scored 17 and 13 points, respectively, for the Raiders (2-13 overall, 1-9 PSAL).

Souleidis scored nine points and Picinic came off the bench to bury two of his three treys as the Pirates took a 25-22 advantage into the lockers.

After Souledis and Ezderman teamed for 15 third-quarter markers to give the visitors a 47-40 lead heading into the fourth, Souleidis capped his big game with six points in the final period.

The Pirates’ big man, in fact, was 7 of 8 from the free-throw line, including 4 for 4 during the final eight minutes.

Junior varsity

St. Peter’s 45, Sea 42

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Ryan Tuite (11 points) nailed a go-ahead three-pointer with just under 1:30 remaining as the Eagles squeezed out the CHSAA Staten Island division win over the visiting Vikings in New Brighton.

Mikhial Lopez also scored 11 points while John Greenwald and Ben Terry added another 14 markers for the Eagles

Robert Johnson and Michael Prue split 26 points for Sea.

The Eagles had a 12-point lead in the early fourth, but the Vikings stormed back behind Prue (two fourth-quarter treys) to take the lead late.

But with SP trailing 41-40 with under 2:00 to play, Tuite did a superb job keeping a possession alive with an offensive rebound before launching a right-wing trey that gave the Eagles a 44-42 advantage with 1:28 left.

Terry later grabbed an offensive board and after being fouled, he hit 1 of 2 freebies to give SP the victory.

Tottenville 40, Port Richmond 33

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Blair Tadros finished with a game-high 16 points to pace the first-place Pirates to the PSAL 1A division victory over the host Raiders.

Tottenville improved to 9-0 in league play and if it wins its final game against CSIM on Jan. 26, it will finish the regular season undefeated.

Jozyah Ortiz led PR with 13 points.