Box Score SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men's basketball team had lost to UTSA the last four times the two teams met. On Saturday afternoon the Islanders put an end to that streak while extending their current win streak to six games with an 85-79 victory over the Roadrunners in San Antonio.
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"Coming in here we knew it was going to be a dog fight," Head Coach Willis Wilson said. "Every time we've played these guys it's been an incredibly intense experience. We've had our struggles against these guys the last three years so to walk away with a win [feels good]."
The Islanders (7-2) trailed by four points with 7:50 to play in the first half, before using a 20-4 run to the end the period and go into the break up 43-31. Junior Rashawn Thomas ignited the run, knocking down back-to-back jumpers to tie the game.
Redshirt senior Hameed Ali then scored four of A&M-Corpus Christi's next six points to extend the Islander advantage to 33-27. The final two points of the first 20 minutes came when senior Dale Francis knocked down a long two-pointer at the buzzer.
The Roadrunners (1-9) fought back, cutting their deficit to just four points midway through the second half, but the Islanders countered every run. The Blue and Green led by as many as 14 before holding on for the 85-79 victory.
THOMAS TIES CAREER HIGH WITH 30 POINTS
The reigning two-time Southland Conference Player of the Week, Rashawn Thomas made a case for his third such honor, pouring in 30 points on 11-of-19 shooting from the floor. He also grabbed nine rebounds and blocked two shots, leading the league in both categories.
Thomas tied his career high of 30 points, which he also accomplished back on opening night against Our Lady of the Lake. The Oklahoma City native has been on a tear as of late, averaging 18.8 points and 12.0 rebounds per game over the last four contests.
"Rashawn Thomas was a beast on the inside. They had no answer for him tonight."
- Willis Wilson
ALI DISHES OUT CAREER BEST NINE ASSISTS
• Hameed Ali led the Islanders with nine assists in the victory.
• It topped his previous career high of eight assists, set against St. Edward's back on Nov. 23.
• Ali is sixth all-time in school history with 237 career assists.
• He has had at least five assists in each of the last six games.
THE STREAK CONTINUES
The Islanders won their sixth straight game on Saturday, improving their overall mark to 7-2. It is the longest win streak for the Blue and Green since winning seven in a row during the 2013-14 season.
BATTLE WITH THE BADGERS ON DECK
The Islanders will continue their road trip on Tuesday at last year's National Runner-up Wisconsin. A&M-Corpus Christi will take on the Badgers at 8 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.
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