Islanders Conclude Home Stand Monday against ACU at American Bank Center

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CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Wrapping up a four-game home stand, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men's basketball program will host Abilene Christian at 7 p.m. at the American Bank Center.
 
The game is a make-up game that was twice postponed. It was originally supposed to be played Jan. 9 and was suspended again on Feb. 1 due to COVID-19 protocols.
 
Monday is expected to be a defensive battle with the top-two defensive teams in the league. The Wildcats (15-3, 7-1 SLC) rank first in the Southland Conference in scoring defense, limiting teams to 58.8 points per game. The Islanders (3-12, 0-6 SLC) are second, holding teams to 69.1 points per outing. Despite the loss, A&M-Corpus Christi held Incarnate Word to 58 points in its last game.
 
Senior Myles Smith has started to heat up as of late. He's averaging 18.3 points over the last three games, including a season-high 23 points against Stephen F. Austin. Smith is coming off a team-high 16 points vs. Incarnate Word. He's 6-of-12 from three over the last two games. Smith has scored in double-figures in five of the last six games.
 
Sophomore Jalen White is the team's leading scorer with 10.8 points per game. He's second in rebounding with 5.5 per outing. White has a pair of double-doubles on the year.
 
Senior Nolan Bertain ranks second in the conference in three-point percentage (.421). Hes made at least three long-range shots in seven games this year.
 
Junior De'Lazarus Keys is the team's leading rebounder with 7.0 per game. Keys, who missed the entire non-conference slate due to injury, also puts in 7.5 points per outing.
 
Senior Perry Francois ranks third in the SLC in blocks with 1.5 per game. He averages 8.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game to round-out the team's balanced scoring attack.
 
Abilene Christian was picked to finish second in the SLC Preseason Poll and has lived up to the hype. It posted non-conference wins over East Tennessee State, Austin Peay, Omaha and Tarleton. In conference, its only loss was a 64-57 decision at Sam Houston.
 
The Wildcats feature a balanced scoring attack with Kolton Kohl leading the way with 11.7 pionts and 4.5 rebounds per game and shoots .567 from the field. Coryon Mason also averages in double-figures with 10.6 points per outing.
 
The game can be watched live for free on the Islanders Digital Network with Steven King on the call.
 
NOTES
- The Islanders are 9-4 all-time against ACU, including 4-2 at home.
 
- A&M-Corpus Christi is 201-97 all-time at home and 133-70 in the American Bank Center. The team is 3-3 at home this year.
 
- As part of a social inclusion movement committed to bringing forth change, the Islanders will 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 in the last game against Incarnate Word. It was 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.
 
- The Islanders have been plagued by postponements all season. They've had six conference games postponed to different dates. Prior to conference play beginning, the Islanders went 22 days between games due to postponements. They had their final two non-conference games canceled and first three SLC matches rescheduled.
 
- Sophomore Jordan Hairston returned to the lineup last week after missing the previous nine games due to injury. In his first game back, he tallied 13 points and a career-high seven assists against SHSU.
 
- Head coach Willis Wilson carries a 90-76 record against Southland Conference opponents. Wilson has won 141 games overall since arriving at The Island University and is the program's career leader in coaching victories.
 
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