UIW Escapes A&M-Corpus Christi with Second Half Runs

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Incarnate Word used runs of 15-0 and 28-2 to flip the momentum in the second half and grab a 58-53 decision from the A&M-Corpus Christi men's basketball program Saturday at the American Bank Center.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi (3-12, 0-6 SLC) led 45-29 with 12:30 remaining in the second half when UIW (8-8, 5-4 SLC) mounted its comeback. The Islanders were still ahead 47-39 when the Cardinals went on a decisive 15-0 spurt to go up 54-47 with 4:07 left.
 
Senior Myles Smith led the way with 16 points and matched his career-high with eight rebounds. He was 6-of-12 from the field and 3-for-6 from three-point range.
 
The Islanders outrebounded the Cardinals 36-32 as junior De'Lazarus Keys also pulled down eight rebounds.
 
UIW was paced by Keaston Willis who ended with 17 points. The Cardinals were 12-of-13 (.923) from the free throw line.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi got off to a slow start and trailed 10-0. A three-pointer by Smith got the team on the board, and a jumper by Smith cut it to 13-9 at the 13:21 mark.
 
A jumper by sophomore Jordan Hairston made it a 19-18 game and the Islanders tied it at 19-19 on a free throw by junior Simeon Fryer with 4:11 to go. A back-and-fourth first half ended with UIW ahead 27-25.
 
The Islanders opened the second half on fire by going on an 11-0 run, capped by a lay-up by sophomore Jalen White to put them ahead 36-27 with 17:02 remaining. A&M-Corpus Christi then went on a 9-0 spurt, as Bertain nailed a three to catapult ahead 45-29 with 12:30 left.
 
UIW started its run by drawing fouls and making free throws and then got hot. The Cardinals went on runs of15-0 and 28-2 to turn the game around.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi made one last push after a three by Smith changed the score to 56-53 with 1:04 remaining. After a stop defensively, the Islanders had a chance to tie it but a three-pointer was off the mark with 14 seconds left and they were forced to foul.
 
The Islanders will conclude a four-game home stand Monday when they host Abilene Christian at 7 p.m. at the American Bank Center.
 
NOTES
- As part of a social inclusion movement, the Islanders wore t-shirts that will read ERACISM on the front and THIS GAME IS NO SECRET on the back in the warm up session and on the bench. It is part of ERACISM, which stands for Equality, Reconciliation, Action - Coaches Social Inclusion Movement. The goal is to create education, awareness and action with current and former college basketball coaches leading the way.
 
- A&M-Corpus Christi is now 9-6 all-time against the Cardinals and has won four of the last six meetings.
 
- The Islanders entered the game ranked second in the league in scoring defense with a 69.9 points per game clip and will improve on their tally after holding the Cardinals to 58 points.
 
- A&M-Corpus Christi dropped to 201-98 all-time at home and 133-71 in the American Bank Center.
 
- Smith registered his 45th career double-figure scoring game, seventh this year and third in a row. He's up to 914 career points in his four-year career as an Islander.
 
- Bertain ranks fourth in the conference in three-point percentage (.411) and was 2-for-3 on the night.
 
- Head coach Willis Wilson is now 90-76 in his career against Southland Conference opponents.
 
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