CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Doubling its win total from last season, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men's basketball program grinded out a 57-53 victory over Lamar on Saturday in the Dugan Wellness Center.
A&M-Corpus Christi's 10-2 record is the best start in program history. The Islanders have won 9 of the last 10 games.
A&M-Corpus Christi overcame a cold shooting day as it was .340 (17-50) from the floor, but played stellar defense and finished with a positive 25-10 turnover margin. It resulted in a 25-4 advantage in points off turnovers.
A career-high from junior
Trevian Tennyson played a large part in the win. He poured in 19 points and was 5-of-10 from three-point range, including 4-of-6 in the second half.
Tennyson was one of three Islanders to score in double-figures. Junior
Isaac Mushila posted 14 points and six rebounds, while senior
Simeon Fryer netted 11 points.
The Cardinals (2-10) we led by Kasen Harrison's 14 points. Jordyn Adams scored 12 points and Valentin Catt 11.
A&M-Corpus Christi was up 4-2 early went it went on a big 12-1 run. It started with a bucket in the post by senior
De'Lazarus Keys and was capped by lay-up by Mushila to make it 16-3 at the 8:34 mark, which was the largest lead of the game for either team.
Lamar chipped away late in the first half. It ended the final 3:38 on an 8-0 spurt to make it a 19-16 game at the intermission. An 8-0 run then turned into a 13-0 run as the Cardinals scored the first five points of the second half to take a 21-19 edge.
Tennyson answered with a three-pointer to go back up, and when the team led 32-30, he hit another to increase it to 35-30 with 12:25 remaining. A third triple by Tennyson gave A&M-Corpus Christi a 47-37 advantage with 7:26 to go.
The Cardinals made a late push and trimmed it to 50-47 after a three by Adams at the 4:36 mark. Though, they never got any closer. A fast break lay-up by Fryer after a steal by junior
Terrion Murdix made it a two possession game 54-49 with 2:01 left, and the Islanders made free throws down the stretch for the win.
A&M-Corpus Christi will hit the road for a stiff test Wednesday at Notre Dame at noon (CT).
NOTES
- A&M-Corpus Christi entered the day ranked top-five in the nation in turnovers forced per game (19.64) and forced 25 turnovers.
- The Islanders entered the game leading the Southland Conference in assists (16.36) and turnover margin (+5.91), and will improve their averages in both categories. They ended with 17 assists and a +15 turnover margin.
- A&M-Corpus Christi has not been outscored in fast break points this season, and despite a slower paced game, finished with a 7-4 edge over Lamar.
- The Islanders improved to 207-101 all-time at home and 5-0 this year.
- Mushila, who is top-10 in the country in free throws made and top-15 in free throw attempts, was 8-for-9 at the line. He tallied his ninth double-figure scoring game in his last 10 outings.
- Tennyson, who has hit a three-pointer in every game this season, topped his previous high of 18 points set most recently at Omaha. His five three-pointers were also a career-best and the most by an Islander in a single-game this year. Tennyson registered his fifth double-figure scoring game of the season and third in a row.
- Fryer recorded his 12th career double-digit scoring performance and fourth in the last five games.
- Murdix entered the game leading the league in assist:turnover ratio (2.0) and second in assists (3.8 apg). He distributed five assists with two turnovers.
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