Box Score
|
| Photo by Kyle Mazabob |
CORPUS CHRISTI – Five players scored in double figures as the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi offense sizzled in an 85-72 win over Houston Baptist on Thursday at the American Bank Center. John Jordan and Rashawn Thomas each scored 20 points, as the Islanders (17-12, 12-5 Southland) moved into a tie for third place in the conference with the victory.
Jelani Currie (14), Brandon Pye (13) and Bryce Douvier (11) all topped 10 points as well, as the home squad placed five in double figures for the first time since the CIT First Round game at Northern Colorado last year. The Islanders scored 18 points off turnovers to HBU's eight.
Anthony Odunsi and Jourdan Stickler led the way for the Huskies (11-16, 6-11) with 14 points apiece, and a late surge on the boards gave HBU the edge, 32-31. The Huskies went 24-for-26 (.923) at the line in a losing effort.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi got out to a torrid start from the field, shooting an incredible 72 percent (18-for-25) from the field in the opening stanza. The Islanders hit their first five shots from the field, including three in a row from Jordan, to build a 10-0 lead before the first media timeout. But the Huskies responded, getting a three-pointer from Tyler Russell to snap the rally. HBU eventually took the score to 18-10 after two free throws from Odunsi at the 12:22 mark.
The Islanders then went on another run, with a Currie three-point play on a feed from Joe Kilgore sparking a 9-0 run to push the lead to 17. Ehab Amin added a pair of layups in the rally, with Currie adding a layup as well, to make it 27-10 at the 10:18 mark. The Huskies again were able to stem the tide, holding the Islanders lead at 29-15, but a Pye three set off an 11-3 run, capped off by a four-point play from Pye that made it 40-18.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi pushed the lead to a game-high 23, 44-21, at the 2:07 mark, but Houston Baptist was able to close the half on an 8-2 rally to enter the locker room down 46-29. Odunsi capped off the scoring with a three-point play of his own to head to the break with 11 points.
The Huskies were able to carry that momentum out of the locker room, scoring the first seven points to cut the lead to just 10, 46-36. A Thomas bucket snapped that rally, but HBU continued its surge at the free-throw line, scoring six straight at the stripe to cut the lead to just six, 48-42.
The Islanders were able to rally, pushing the lead to nine at 53-44, but the Huskies came right back with six straight points to cut the lead to just three. After two Thomas free throws, Colter Lasher drilled a three to make the lead just two, 55-53. In all, around halftime, the run for the Huskies was 32-11.
But the Islanders came back with two free throws, and then after an Emmanuel Toney steal, got five points in a single possession. Currie buried a shot in transition and got a foul called. He missed the bonus free throw, but an offensive rebound set Douvier up for a three that pushed the lead to 62-53. A Jordan free throw made it 63-53.
Odunsi got a free throw at the other end, but six straight free throws and a Currie layup made it eight straight points for the home squad, and in all, a 16-1 run to put the home squad ahead 17, 71-54. From there, the Huskies were able to chip away, but could get no closer than 11 through the final whistle.
The Islanders are back in action on Saturday, when they play host to Abilene Christian for the final regular-season game of the season. It will also be Senior Day, as the Islanders will honor John Jordan and student manager Preston Sivils prior to tipoff. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. at the American Bank Center. Tickets are available by calling 825-BALL (2255) or visiting GoIslanders.com.
For all the latest on Islanders Basketball, be sure to follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@IslandersMBB) and like the team on Facebook (IslandersMBB).
