Turnovers Topple Islanders

SAN ANTONIO -- A slow start set Texas A&M-Corpus Christi into a 14-point deficit and the Islanders were never able to recover as UTSA cruised to a 72-58 decision Friday night.
 
Joseph Kilgore led the Islanders (1-4) with 18 points on the night, but the Blue and Green shot just 40 percent from the field while UTSA finished at 53 percent. Emmanuel Toney returned to the floor for the first time since 2015-16 and dropped 11 points, hitting all three of his attempts from beyond the arc.
 
Keaton Wallace led UTSA (4-2) with 14 points, including four three-pointers, while three other Roadrunners finished in double figures.
 
"We never got going tonight," said head coach Willis Wilson. "I don't know what it is, but we never got going. It was a bad start, they got that lead up and we really just could not break that barrier. I don't know how you win when you turn it over as many times as we did. I think we had close to 17, 18, 19 turnovers in the second half. That's a lot of possessions and opportunities to score points."
 
UTSA opened red-hot from the field hitting 8-of-9 to start the game, including three triples to open a 15-3 edge. The Roadrunners continued the hot shooting throughout the first half, shooting 60 percent from the field and 7-of-13 from downtown to build a 41-27 lead at the break.
 
After falling into the 12-point hole out of the gate, the Islanders rallied within seven, but left six points at the free throw line in the first half. The Blue and Green shot just 42 percent from the field and 40 percent at the charity stripe in the sluggish opening 20 minutes.
 
In the second half, the Islanders were able to contain UTSA to 45 percent from the field, but could never make a run to get back into the game. The Blue and Green would never close within 10 points in the second 20 minutes as UTSA saw out the 14-point victory.
 
For the game, the Islanders shot just 52 percent at the free throw line, finishing 13-of-25 in the loss. Corpus Christi also turned the ball over 25 times, marking the most for the Blue and Green since February 23, 2011 in the very same building.
 
NUMBERS GAME
 
>> Kareem South finished with 11 points and five rebounds.
>> The Islanders finished 7-of-10 from three to shoot over 70 percent from downtown for the first time since February 15.
>> The Islanders forced 24 turnovers and turned those into 22 points.
>> Sean Rhea ended the night with 10 points on 4-of-8 from the field.
 
LOOK AHEAD
 
Next Game: at Texas State | Wednesday, Nov. 29 | 7 p.m.
Next Home Game: vs. Texas Lutheran | Friday, Dec. 1 |7 p.m.
Next Game on Corpus Christi Athletic Club Court: vs. Lamar | Saturday, Dec. 30 | 7:30 p.m.