A&M-Corpus Christi Pummels HBU to End Season on High Note

HOUSTON – The 2020-21 season finale saw the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men's basketball program save its best performance for last in a 94-70 victory over Houston Baptist on Saturday at Sharp Gym.
 
It was a wire-to-wire win for A&M-Corpus Christi (5-19, 2-13 SLC), which got out to a 36-8 lead over HBU (5-18, 4-11 SLC). The 94 points were the most the program has scored in a conference game since a 97-81 win at Incarnate Word on Feb. 15, 2017.
 
The Islanders were up 24 points at halftime – their largest halftime lead of the season. It was never in jeopardy in the second half.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi made a season-high 37 field goals and pulled down a season-best 47 rebounds. It shot .514 from the field and outrebounded the Huskies 47-31, their largest rebounding margin of the year.
 
Four Islanders scored in double-figures. Sophomore Jalen White led the way with 16 points, six rebounds, five steals and three assists. Senior Myles Smith posted 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
 
Going 4-for-6 from long-range was senior Nolan Bertain who netted 15 points. Junior Simeon Fryer aided the attack with 11 points. Junior De'Lazarus Keys posted eight points and 12 rebounds.
 
HBU was guided by Pedro Castro who finished with 17 points and was 4-of-6 from long-range. A&M-Corpus Christi limited HBU to a .375 (24-64) field goal percentage as a team.
 
The Islanders scored the first six points of the game after a couple of buckets by Fryer. After a basket by the Huskies, A&M-Corpus Christi went on an 8-0 run, capped by a three by Bertain to go up 14-2 at the 13:19 mark.
 
The Islanders then went on an 11-0 spurt to lead 25-4 after a jumper by Keys with 9:22 to go. Another field goal by Keys made it a 36-8 game with 5:22 left.
 
Sophomore Jordan Hairston drained a three with under a minute left, and despite a three from the Huskies on their final possession, A&M-Corpus Christi doubled them up 48-24 at the break.
 
The teams exchanged basket for nearly the entire second half, but it wasn't nearly enough for HBU to get back in the game. The Islanders never saw their lead drop below 18 points, as an 80-62 score with 4:57 left was as close as the Huskies would get.
 
Senior Javae Lampkins got in on the action with a three-pointer to remain ahead 90-67 at the 2:13 mark. As an exclamation point on the night, freshman Lado Laku threw down a dunk for the team's final tally with 48 seconds left.
 
It was the only meeting this year between the Islanders and the Huskies since the game in Corpus Christi on Feb. 15 was canceled due to extreme weather conditions.
 
NOTES
- A&M-Corpus Christi improved to 11-4 all-time against HBU. All 15 meetings have come under head coach Willis Wilson.
 
- White finished the year by scoring at least 15 points in five of the last six games. He led the team with 11.7 points per game on the season. White recorded his 11th double-figure scoring game on the year and his five assists and three steals were both career-highs.
 
- Bertain's .432 three-point percentage ranks seventh all-time in single-season program history. He hit at least three long-range shots nine times this season and ranked second in the Southland Conference in three-point percentage. Bertain notched his 12th career double-figure scoring game and seventh this year.
 
- Smith etched his 47th career double-figure scoring game and ninth this season. His eight rebounds matched a career-high, set five times. After four years, Smith totaled 978 points, 349 rebounds, 239 assists and 96 steals. He played in 94 games and started 82. He was a .841 career free throw shooter.
 
- Fryer submitted his seventh double-digit scoring game of the year. He was 5-of-7 from the floor.
 
- Wilson wrapped up his 10th season at the helm. He carries a 92-83 record against Southland Conference opponents. Wilson has won 143 games overall since arriving at The Island University and is the program's career leader in coaching victories.
 
Stay Social
- For all the latest on Islanders Men's Basketball, be sure to follow the team on Twitter (@Islanders_MBB), Instagram (@IslandersMBB) and "like" the team's official Facebook page (IslandersMBB).
 
#ShakasUp