A&M-Corpus Christi Fades in Second Half at Lamar

BEAUMONT, Texas – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men's basketball program kept it close until midway through the second half when Lamar pulled away for a 66-47 decision Monday at the Montagne Center.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi (4-18, 1-12 SLC) trailed Lamar (7-17, 5-10 SLC) by five at half when it came back to tie it 31-31 with 16:55 to go in the second. Though, the Islanders went on a 10-minute span where they got outscored 24-5, which included a 15-0 run and couldn't get momentum back on their side.
 
Freshman Lado Laku scored a career-high nine points and was 3-for-3 from the field. Junior Simeon Fryer recorded nine points and a career-high seven rebounds.
 
It was a cold shooting night for A&M-Corpus Christi, which went 18-for-55 (.327) from the floor. The Islanders were also just 5-of-14 (.357) from the free throw line.
 
Lamar garnered four double-figure scorers including double-doubles of 12 points and 13 rebounds from David Muoka and 11 points and 12 rebounds from Avery Sullivan.
 
The Islanders led 12-9 at the 12:42 mark of the first half on a three-pointer by sophomore Jordan Hairston. After Lamar came back to take the lead, A&M-Corpus Christi evened it 15-15 on a three by senior Nolan Bertain with 9:19 left.
 
The Cardinals used an 8-0 run to go up 23-15, but jumpers by Fryer and sophomore Jalen White got the deficit down to 28-23 at the break.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi trailed 30-29 early in the second on a three by senior Myles Smith and tied it 31-31 on a jumper by Keys with 16:55 remaining. However, Lamar scored the next six points and then went on a big 15-0 run to create separation 61-38 with 5:48 to go.
 
The Islanders will play their second of a three-game road trip Wednesday to end the regular season when they travel to Sam Houston for a 6:30 p.m. tip.
 
NOTES
- A&M-Corpus Christi and Lamar split the season series after the Islanders won the first meeting this year at home 77-68.
 
- Bertain entered the game ranked second in the Southland Conference in three-point percentage (.414) and was 2-for-4 from long-range in the contest.
 
- Laku more-than doubled his previous career-high of four points set at Texas Tech on Dec. 12, 2020. His three made field goals and three free throws were also career bests.
 
- Head coach Willis Wilson carries a 91-82 record against SLC opponents. Wilson has won 142 games overall since arriving at The Island University and is the program's career leader in coaching victories.
 
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