SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men's basketball program got off to a fast start, but Texas State was able to pull-out a low scoring 51-46 decision Tuesday at Strahan Arena.
A&M-Corpus Christi (1-6) came out of the gates hot and led 11-2 early. Though, Texas State (4-3) made a run late in the first half to lead at the intermission.
The Bobcats went up by as many as 12 points in the second before the Islanders rallied back. They got the deficit down to just three points with 1:12 left and were awarded two free throws and the ball after an intentional foul. Though, after both free throws were missed, Texas State got a stop defensively after an offensive foul was called to thwart the threat. The Bobcats then scored on the ensuing possession to go up five with 22 seconds remaining.
Senior
Nolan Bertain shined with a career-high 19 points. He made his first start of the season and was 6-for-9 from the field, 3-for-4 from long-range and 4-for-4 from the free throw line.
Also in double-figures for A&M-Corpus Christi was senior
Perry Francois who posted 13 points. He was 6-for-7 from the floor.
The Islanders were shorthanded due to injuries and played just seven student-athletes.
Texas State was paced by Caleb Asberry who finished with 15 points.
A&M-Corpus Christi started the game with a dunk by Francois and a lay-up by senior
Myles Smith, and extended the advantage to 11-2 after a three by Bertain and a jumper by Smith with 15:30 left.
The Bobcats slowly chipped away at the lead and trailed 18-15 when sophomore
Jalen White answered with a three-pointer and Francois scored a bucket to get the edge back up to 23-15 at the 9:20 mark.
However, Texas State responded with a big 12-0 run over the next seven minutes to leap in front 27-23. A pair of free throws by junior
Simeon Fryer had the Islanders down 27-25 at the half.
In the second, the Bobcats were seemingly pulling away when they opened the half on a 13-3 spurt to make it a 40-28 game with 13:55 to go. Though, A&M-Corpus Christi didn't go down without a fight.
Bertain caught fire and executed a four-point play after a free throw and a foul to trail 48-43 with 2:57 remaining. Another three by Bertain trimmed it to 49-46 at the 2:18 mark.
The Islanders got a stop defensively and had the ball in transition down by three with 1:12 remaining when an intentional foul was called on the Bobcats in the open court. A&M-Corpus Christi was unable to cash-in as it missed both free throws, and then were called for an offensive foul to hand the ball back to Texas State. The Bobcats then garnered a bucket on a floater by Mason Harrell to make it a five-point game with 22 seconds left.
The Islanders return home Saturday to host Our Lady of the Lake at 2 p.m. at the Dugan Wellness Center. OLLU is coming off a 61-58 win over the Bobcats. A&M-Corpus Christi is 5-0 all-time against OLLU.
NOTES
- The all-time series between A&M-Corpus Christi and Texas State is now tied 10-10. The teams are even 5-5 home and away.
- The 97 total points scored was the fewest amount in an A&M-Corpus Christi game since Dec. 5, 2015 when, coincidentally, they beat Texas State 47-39.
- The last time the Islanders held a team to 51 points in a loss was Dec. 18, 2008 when they fell at Savannah State 47-42.
- Bertain topped his previous career-high of 18 points set last season against UTSA. By making all four of his free throw attempts, Bertain is now 16-for-16 at the line this season. He tallied his seventh double-figure scoring game of his career and second in a row after netting 12 points at No. 17 Texas Tech on Saturday.
- Francois notched his ninth career double-figure scoring performance and third in the last four games. He entered the contest ranked top-five in the Southland Conference in blocks with 1.3 per outing and swatted away a pair in the game.
- All seven student-athletes that played for the Islanders registered at least one rebound and assist. They all logged over 16 minutes.
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