Cowboys' Offense Too Much for Islanders

STILLWATER, Okla. – Five Cowboys scored in double-figures as Oklahoma State's offensive firepower proved too much for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Thursday afternoon in Gallagher-Iba Arena. The Cowboys built a 19-point halftime advantage and eventually saw out a 92-70 victory despite a scrappy second half from the Islanders.
 
"In games like this against teams like Oklahoma State you almost feel like you have to play perfect and you really don't," said head coach Willis Wilson. "What you have to do is convert when you have opportunities. We had a number of missed layups. I thought we had a couple of good looks, but we're probably not getting enough shots from the perimeter, especially from the three-point line. I thought we had a few that, if those fall and we make the layups, it's a different basketball game."
 
Ehab Amin went 10-for-18 from the field, scoring 23 points to lead the Islanders (7-4) in Stillwater. He added three steals as well after entering the game as the nation's leader in thefts.
 
Rashawn Thomas went for his fourth double-double of the season, scoring 15 on 7-of-14 shooting while pulling down a team high 10 boards. Still, it was not enough to get past the offensive juggernaut that is Oklahoma State (10-2) as the Cowboys built a 19-point halftime advantage.
 
After a tight opening 10 minutes, Oklahoma State found its stroke from beyond the arc to turn a 4-point advantage into a 52-33 lead at the break. The Cowboys were aided by 15 second-chance points on 12 offensive boards in the first half.
 
Thomas Dziagwa hopped off the bench to change the tone of a tight first half, knocking down 3-of-4 from beyond the arc as part of an 11-point opening half.
 
The second half was a much tighter affair as the Islanders were able to slow the Cowboys beyond the arc. The Islanders closed as close as 15 in the second half, but could not find a run back into the game. The Blue and Green finished an uncharacteristic 5-of-14 at the free throw line on the day.
 
At 92 points, Oklahoma State was held below the century mark for the first time in Gallagher-Iba Arena this season.
 
BATTLE ON THE GLASS
 
A major part of Oklahoma State's run to end the first half was the Cowboy's dominance on the glass. The Cowboys outrebounded the Islanders 28-21 in the first half, with 12 of those coming on the offensive end.
 
Mitchell Solomon pulled down 11 first half rebounds as the Cowboy big created problems for the Islanders down low. He finished with 14 on the day.
 
The Islanders were able to minimize the advantage in the second half, holding a 22-21 edge. That allowed the Islanders to stay in touch, closing within 15 in the second half. Even then, the Blue and Green was outscored 26-16 in second chance points Thursday.
 
HOMECOMING SHOW
 
Playing just an hour from his hometown of Oklahoma City, Islander big Rashawn Thomas notched a double-double against the Big 12 Cowboys. Thomas scored 15 to mark the 11th consecutive game in double figures this season.
 
On the glass, Thomas grabbed 10 caroms, three of which were offensive. The double-double was his 24th of his career, putting him one shy of tying the A&M-Corpus Christi record.
 
PERRY PRODUCTIVE
 
Freshman Perry Francois had his best game yet as an Islander, scoring a career-best eight and pulling down five rebounds. The five boards were also a career-high with four coming on the offensive end.

"I thought it was a nice performance by Perry Francois," said Wilson. "It was nice to see him kind of come into his own and play with some urgency and confidence. If we can get him to continue on that track and have a couple other guys come along with him, we can begin to see the bench develop and see the kind of team we've been trying to put on the floor all year long."
 
Francois' work came in just 14 minutes on the floor, the most amongst the true freshman.
 
SOUTHLAND STARTS UP
 
The Islanders continue on the four-game road swing with the beginning of Southland Conference play on New Year's Eve. The Blue and Green takes on New Orleans before heading to Nicholls on January 2nd.
 
"I've seen a lot of glimmers of excellence," said Wilson. "There are some real moments of Level 5, top-shelf basketball and I don't think they are few and far between. They're there and we just have to be more consistent. We've got to continue to work on developing our bench and iron out some of those situations where fatigue or lack of experience kicks in.
 
"A game like tonight helps us in those situations," Wilson continued. "We had some lineups  on the floor that we hadn't seen in a while or maybe even at all that performed well. I think that gives confidence from me as a head coach through the staff, veteran players and young guys as well."
 
A&M-Corpus Christi was picked third in the Southland preseason polls behind Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin.