Bounce Back Beatdown

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Joseph Kilgore needed just 13 seconds to place Texas A&M-Corpus Christi into the lead and the Islanders never looked back, going coast-to-coast for a dominant 80-42 victory over Texas Lutheran Friday night in the Dugan Wellness Center. The 38-point margin of victory is the largest in over a decade for the Blue and Green, dating to January 2007.
 
Kilgore's game-opening jumper sparked a 14-0 run as Corpus Christi (2-5) flipped the script from its slow starts the past three games. The senior Kilgore scores a game-high 18 points and finished with a career-high six assists in the victory.
 
Elijah Schmidt added 11 points as the Blue and Green balanced the floor with six players scoring eight or more points. Kareem South provided a near double-double scoring nine points and pulling in a career-best nine rebounds.
 
The 14-0 run to open the set the tone as the Islanders locked down defensively, holding the Bulldogs without a point for the first 8:22 of game time. The quick start allowed the Blue and Green to build a 37-17 halftime lead behind 57 percent shooting.

Reem got bounce too! #GoDers pic.twitter.com/AcmD5oail1

— Islanders MBB (@IslandersMBB) December 2, 2017

 
DOMINANT DEFENSE
 
The Islanders controlled the game thanks to a near-record defensive performance, holding Texas Lutheran to just 27 percent from the floor for the game. The mark is the lowest opponent field goal percentage since November 11, 2013 when the Islanders held Huston-Tillotson to 24 percent.
 
The shutdown performance is the second-lowest percentage dating to 2011.
 
Corpus Christi racked up 15 steals, one shy of its season-high. The Islanders capitalized to the tune of 24 points off those turnovers.
 
CRASH THE GLASS
 
Corpus Christi cleaned up in the rebounding department, holding a 40-25 edge of the boards. The plus-15 edge on the boards marked just the 14th time in the past eight years the Blue and Green has held such a rebounding margin.
 
South led the way with his career-best nine while Schmidt and York Benjamin grabbed five apiece.
 
THE NUMBERS
 
>> Kilgore's 18 points mark the seventh straight game in double digits to open the season.
>> Corpus Christi held TLU to just 13 made field goals in the game. That's the third-fewest field goals allowed in program history.
>> Kilgore (18), Schmidt (11), South (9), Hale (9), Gray (8), Benjamin (8) all scored over eight points.
>> The nine points for Colin Hale marks a career high.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
 
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi returns to action Wednesday night as the Islanders travel to Edinburg to take on UTRGV in the South Texas Showdown presented by NavyArmy Community Credit Union.
 
The Blue and Green returns to the Dugan Wellness Center for the final time in non-conference action on December 15 before opening Southland play on Corpus Christi Athletic Club Court at the American Bank Center on December 30.