CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Despite big individual performances from juniors
Terrion Murdix and
Isaac Mushila, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men's basketball program dropped a 77-71 decision to HBU on Saturday at the American Bank Center.
Mushila notched 22 points and matched his career-high with 17 rebounds. Murdix poured in a career-high 21 points to go along with four assists and three steals.
Though as a team, A&M-Corpus Christi (15-5, 2-1 SLC) couldn't overcome a cold shooting night after going 22-for-57 (.386) from the floor. On the other end, HBU (6-10, 2-1 SLC) was 26-of-54 (.481).
The game featured six lead changes, but the Islanders were trying to catch up for most of the second half. They trailed 65-61 with 3:40 remaining but the Huskies were able to make baskets down the stretch to holdoff a late rally attempt.
HBU was led by Darius Lee's 25 points, six assists and five rebounds. Sam Hofman ended with 18 points and 13 rebounds.
A jumper by senior
Simeon Fryer had A&M-Corpus Christi down 10-8 early when the Huskies responded with an 11-0 run to go up 21-8 at the 8:55 mark.
The Islanders were aggressive offensively and slowly chipped away at the deficit from the charity stripe as they made nine consecutive free throws to cut it to 25-24 with 3:16 left. A&M-Corpus Christi took the lead 26-25 after a put-back by Murdix, which capped an 11-0 run.
HBU scored the final bucket of the half to take a slight 30-29 edge into the intermission.
A jumper by senior
De'Lazarus Keys and a three by senior
Trevian Tennyson gave A&M-Corpus Christi a 34-30 edge at the 18:44 mark. Though, HBU responded with a 9-1 spurt to go up 39-35 and the Islanders never led again.
The Huskies went up 53-43 with 10:09 to go when Tennyson and Murdix made field goals to cut it to 55-51 with 7:18 left. A&M-Corpus Christi still trailed 65-61 after a pair of free throws by senior
Myles Smith.
Though, the Islanders weren't able to get enough stops down the stretch and were forced to foul. A steal and two free throws by Lee put HBU up 74-65 with 22 seconds left.
Up next, A&M-Corpus Christi will play its first conference road game of the year when it travels to Southeastern for an 8 p.m. tip Thursday on ESPN+.
NOTES
- A&M-Corpus Christi is now 209-102 all-time at home, 8-1 this year and 138-75 all-time at the American Bank Center.
- The Islanders dropped to 11-5 all-time against HBU and 7-1 at home.
- Mushila entered the game ranked 12th in the nation in field goal percentage (.605) and was right on par after going 6-for-10 from the floor.
- Mushila posted back-to-back double-doubles for the second time this year as he was coming off 18 points and 17 rebounds against McNeese. It was his seventh double-double, 16th double-figure scoring game and eighth double-figure rebounding game of the year. Mushila has pulled down 17 rebounds three times.
- Murdix surpassed his previous career-high of 19 points at Omaha on Dec. 11, 2021. His eight made field goals were a career-best. Murdix etched his seventh double-figure scoring game of the season. He entered the game ranked second in the league in assists (4.1 apg) and fourth in steals (1.8 spg) and finished with four assists and three steals.
- With 10 points, Smith submitted his 54th career double-figure scoring performance and seventh this year.
- Tennyson continued his streak of hitting a three-pointer in every game this year.
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