Game #18: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (9-8, 2-4) at Sam Houston State (14-6, 5-2)
Date: Saturday, January 21
Location: Huntsville, Texas
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Following a narrow 61-58 loss to Stephen F. Austin Thursday night, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi returns to the road with a trip north to face Sam Houston State.
The Islanders and Bearkats renew what has been one of the most competitive rivalries in the conference over the past few years, including three thrilling matchups a season ago. A Southland Tournament semifinal between the two was the pinnacle where former guard
Hameed Ali hit a game-winning three with just five seconds to play.
Saturday is the only meeting between the Islanders and Bearkats this season.
OH SO CLOSE
• The Islanders came inches away from sending Thursday's game into overtime.
Ehab Amin's last second half-court heave bounced high off the front iron as time expired in the 61-58 loss.
• Corpus Christi rallied from a 10-point second half deficit to take a one-point lead, but SFA got a steal and layup with 14 seconds remaining to seal the win.
• The Islanders played without leading scorer
Rashawn Thomas.
SOUTH SETTLING IN
• Redshirt freshman
Kareem South continues to grow in his first full season of play with the Islanders.
• South scored a career-high 18 points in the loss to Stephen F. Austin.
• The guard was a big part of the second-half comeback, sinking a pair of clutch threes for the Blue and Green.
• South's aggression paid off as well, he finished 8-for-8 at the charity stripe.
SCOUTING SAM HOUSTON STATE
• After taking its lumps in back-to-back losses to open the Southland Conference season, Sam Houston State has reeled off five straight wins.
• The Bearkats crushed Lamar 87-65 Thursday night in Huntsville as John Dewey III, Dakarai Henderson and Aurimas Majauskas all scored in double figures.
• Henderson leads Sam Houston on the season, averaging 10.9 points per game while Chris Galbreath, Jr. comes off the bench to add 10.3.
HOW TO FOLLOW
The contest will be streamed live and free of charge on GoBearkats.com. The Islanders audio broadcast can be found at GoIslanders.com/IDN as
Steven King has the call.
