EDINBURG, Texas – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men's basketball program finished on the short end of an 89-82 final against UTRGV on Wednesday in the South Texas Showdown, presented by NavyArmy Community Credit Union.
With the result, A&M-Corpus Christi (4-4) and UTRGV (5-3) split a pair of meetings in the showdown after the Islanders won 97-75 at home on Nov. 17. Though, the Islanders won the men's basketball attendance point after a crowd of 1,493 at home, compared to 865 at UTRGV.
The Islanders led 42-39 at the half but the Vaqueros shot .560 from the field in the second to grab a lead in the final eight minutes and stay ahead. UTRGV shot .528 for the floor for the game.
Senior
Isaac Mushila turned in a double-double as he matched his season-high with 26 points to go along with 11 rebounds and four steals. He was one of four A&M-Corpus Christi student-athletes to score in double-figures.
With 15 points and five assists, senior
Terrion Murdix was 7-of-12 from the field. Senior
Simeon Fryer netted a season-high 11 points and graduate
Ross Williams recorded 11.
The Islanders shot 17-of-18 (.944) from the free throw line as a team. Mushila was 10-for-11.
The Vaqueros were guided by Will Johnston's 29 points. Justin Johnson finished with 17 points and seven rebounds.
After UTRGV scored the first six points of the game, seniors
Trevian Tennyson and Fryer hit threes to even it 6-6 at the 16:36 mark. The Islanders took their first lead of the game 15-14 after a drive by senior
Jalen Jackson with 12:44 left.
Mushila started to heat up inside and increased the lead to 31-24 after a lay-up with 4:42 to go. Though, the Vaqueros scored the final four points of the half to trim it to 42-39 at the intermission.
A fast-paced second half started with the teams exchanging baskets for the first eight minutes. A three by Williams had the Islanders ahead 59-57 at the 11:30 media timeout.
A&M-Corpus Christi still led 63-61 when the Vaqueros used a three and a lay-up to jump back in front 66-63 with 8:48 remaining. After a lay-in by Williams, UTRGV extended it to 73-65 with 4:51 left after a 7-0 spurt.
The Islanders fought until the end but couldn't get back the momentum back in the final minutes.
The Islanders will return home Wednesday, Dec. 7 to host Texas Lutheran at 7 p.m. in the American Bank Center. It will end a 20-day stretch between home games, the longest of the season.
NOTES
- A&M-Corpus Christi is now 19-12 all-time against UTRGV and 3-1 under head coach
Steve Lutz.
- The Islanders entered the night leading the Southland Conference in free throw percentage (.762) and will improve further after shooting 17-of-18.
- Mushila registered his 17th career double-figure scoring game, fourth this year and second in a row. It was his eighth career 20-plus scoring game and third this year. Mushila was 8-of-11 from the field. His four steals tied a career-high.
- Murdix tallied his fifth consecutive double-digit scoring outing, sixth this year and 23rd of his career. His seven made field goals were a season-high and one shy his career-high.
- Fryer's 15 points topped his previous season-high of nine against UTRGV at home. It was his 21st career double-figure scoring game.
- Williams posted his fourth double-figure scoring game of the year. He was 3-of-5 from long-range.
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