CORPUS CHRISTI, TEX. --- Travis Bailey (San Antonio, Tex.)
pumped in a game-high 26 points to pace Texas A&M-Corpus
Christi to an 80-72 victory over Oakland in the finals of the Third
Annual Flint Hills Resources Islander Classic, Saturday.
Bailey, who also dished off 5 assists and registered 2 steals, hit
7 of 18 shots from the floor and drained 8 of 9 free throw attempts
in the victory. Brian Evans (Dallas, Tex.) chipped in 12 points,
while Corey Lamkin (San Antonio, Tex.) and Sean Cole (Marina del
Rey, Calif.) added 11 as the Islanders led from start to finish.
Aaron White (Milan, Mich.) recorded 10 in a reserve role.
The Islanders, now 5-6, took the lead for good at the 18:07 mark of
the first half on a three-pointer by Bailey. A&M-CC built the
lead up to 21-7 before the Golden Grizzlies got themselves on
track. Oakland drew within 28-23 on a bucket by Cortney Scott with
a shade under two minutes left in the first.
Leading 31-25 at intermission, the Islanders put the game away with
a 12-4 run in the opening five minutes to get the lead back up to a
14-point cushion. Oakland drew to as close as six on two occasions,
but couldn�t get any closer.
The Golden Grizzlies, now 5-4, were paced by Rawle
Marshall�s 21-point, 12-rebound effort. Scott added 16
points and 8 rebounds in the loss. Mike Helms, Oakland�s
leading scorer heading into the game with a 29.9 scoring average,
was held to just 11 points before fouling out with 8:12 left in
regulation.
Derrick Murphy (Country Club Hills, Ill.) and Lamkin led
A&M-CC�s rebounding efforts with 9 each.
Marshall as well as Randy Dukes of Morgan State; RaKim Hollis and
Allen Lovett of Texas Southern joined Bailey on the all-tournament
team. Helms was named the Tournament MVP.
A&M-CC will kick off a three-game roadtrip beginning January 4
at Savannah State.
