Box Score Game 32: #2 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (25-6) vs. #1 Stephen F. Austin (26-5)
Saturday, March 12 • 8:30 p.m. • Katy, Texas (Merrell Center)
Video: ESPN2/WatchESPN• Audio: Islanders Digital Network
KATY, Texas – If the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men's basketball is to earn a berth to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2007, it won't come easy. The second seeded Islanders take on top seeded and two-time defending champion Stephen F. Austin Saturday at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
RELATED: Live Stats • Watch • Listen • Tickets • Game Notes (pdf)
The Islanders (25-6) advanced to Saturday's championship game after defeating third seeded Sam Houston State 79-76 Friday night at the Merrell Center in Katy. The Blue and Green trailed by 12 points at the half, and by 13 with 16 minutes to play, but A&M-Corpus Christi rallied to defeat the Bearkats on a go-ahead three-pointer by senior Hameed Ali with just seconds on the clock.
The Lumberjacks (26-5) didn't need quite the same heroics in the first semifinal of the day. Stephen F. Austin, as has been the case for much of the 2015-16 season, cruised to victory, defeating fourth seeded Houston Baptist 104-68.
SFA is a mere 53-1 in Southland Conference games the last three seasons, winning three straight regular season titles. This season the Lumberjacks went a perfect 18-0.
Back on Jan. 30 the Islanders host the Lumberjacks at the American Bank Center and had every opportunity to tarnish Stephen F. Austin's unblemished league mark. A&M-Corpus Christi led 57-53 with just 3:23 to play, but an 11-0 Lumberjack run led to a 66-61 victory for SFA, handing the Islanders their first Southland loss of the season.
The two teams met again in Nacogdoches on Feb. 13, but SFA won again, this time a score of 70-58.
The Islanders, however, have a bit of history on their side. A&M-Corpus Christi is the only Southland Conference team to have beaten SFA during Brad Underwood's three-year stint as head coach. The Islanders won 71-63 in Corpus Christi on Feb. 14 of 2015.
Saturday's meeting has the most on the line yet. For the Lumberjacks, a third straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament. For the Islanders, their first since 2007 and only second ever.
The game will be broadcast on national television, airing on ESPN2 at 8:30 p.m. There will also be availability on WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN mobile app. Bob Wischusen and Sean Harrington will have the call from Katy.
Fans can also listen to the championship game on the Islanders Digital Network with Steven King and Yannis Koutroupis calling the action. The Islanders Digital Network can be accessed on GoIslanders.com and the Islanders Front Row app.
SATURDAY SEND-OFF
Fans are invited to the official Send-Off Pep Rally tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn in Katy as the Islanders head back to the Merrell Center for the Southland Conference Championship game.
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