Islanders Topped by Privateers after Slow Start

NEW ORLEANS – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men's basketball program fell behind early Wednesday and couldn't recover in an 87-68 decision to New Orleans at Lakefront Arena.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi (3-8, 0-2 SLC) trailed by as many as 22 in the first half. The Islanders cut it down to 13 in the second half but couldn't muster the big rally that it needed.
 
Turnovers played a large role in UNO (4-9, 3-2 SLC) building its early lead. The turnover margin was 15-4 at the intermission.
 
Senior Nolan Bertain led the team with 15 points and six rebounds. He was one of three double-figure scorers along with 11 points and eight rebounds from senior Myles Smith and 10 points and six rebounds from sophomore Jalen White.
 
UNO garnered a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds from Damion Rosser. All five UNO starters scored at least 10 points.
 
The Privateers shot .515 (34-66) from the field in the game.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi's scored on its first possession as White converted an old-fashion three-point play to put the team up 3-0. Bertain knocked down a jumper to put them up 5-2.
 
UNO responded with a big 16-0 run to catapult ahead 18-5 at the 13:10 mark. The largest lead of the half was 37-15 with 5:40 left, but the Islanders got it down to 37-24 on a lay-up by senior Perry Francois with 3:03 remaining.
 
After the Privateers went up by 20 early in the second half, A&M-Corpus Christi again got it down to a 13-point margin, 53-40, on a three by Bertain with 16:50 to go. Though, the Islanders couldn't get any closer the rest of the way as the team's exchanged blows for most of the second half.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi will wrap-up a three-game road trip Saturday when it travels to Incarnate Word. Tip-off time was moved up to 2 p.m.
 
NOTES
- The Islanders are now 8-8 against UNO under head coach Willis Wilson, who carries a 90-72 career record against the Southland Conference.
 
- Bertain has knocked down at least a trio of three-pointers in six consecutive games. He submitted his 10th career double-figure scoring game and fifth this season. Bertain was coming off a career-high 20 points at Southeastern Louisiana.
 
- Smith etched his 42nd career double-digit performance and fourth this year. He's now up to 850 career points in his four years at The Island University. Smith's eight rebounds matched a career-high.
 
- White scored in double-figures for the fourth time this year and the third in his last four outings.
 
- Francois entered the game ranked third in the conference in blocks (1.4 bpg) and more-than doubled his average with three in the contest, which matched his career-high.
 
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