New Orleans Gets Past A&M-Corpus Christi

NEW ORLEANS – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men's basketball program led for the majority of the game, but New Orleans rallied in the second half and held off the Islanders in the end for a 78-69 final Thursday at Lakefront Arena.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi (16-8, 3-4 SLC) was in the lead for the entire first half and until the 9:42 mark in the second when first-place New Orleans (14-8, 7-1 SLC) went on a pivotal 12-0 run to leap ahead. The Privateers then extended their lead to 10 points when the Islanders got it down to two late, but UNO was able to hang on.
 
The Islanders outrebounded the Privateers 44-32, but UNO shot 8-of-16 (.500) from long-range and .474 from the field compared to A&M-Corpus Christi's .406 mark.
 
Junior Terrion Murdix led the way for the Islanders with 19 points and seven rebounds. Junior Trevian Tennyson hit a trio of threes and finished with 11 points.
 
Also in double-figures was senior Simeon Fryer with 10 points. Senior De'Lazarus Keys pulled down 11 rebounds.
 
A pair of student-athletes from UNO did a lot of damage as Troy Green finished with 29 points, while Derek St. Hilaire ended with 22.
 
The Islanders led 8-2 early after an and-one by Murdix at the 17:04 mark. They were still up 13-8 after an old-fashion three-point play by sophomore Stephen Faramade, but the Privateers scored the next five to tie it 13-13 at the 13:38 mark.

And-oneeeee by Murdix. Islanders up 8-2 early.#ShakasUp // #LutzGo pic.twitter.com/wT26OVceoT

— Islanders Men's Basketball (@Islanders_MBB) February 11, 2022

A&M-Corpus Christi answered with back-to-back driving lay-ups by junior Jalen Jackson to regain a 17-13 edge. Still up 19-17, the Islanders went on a 7-0 run as the Privateers called timeout after Tennyson buried a three to lead 26-17 with 8:15 to go.
 
UNO came back to tie it 31-31 on St. Hilaire's hot hand as he hit a trio of deep threes late in the half. Though, a pair of lay-ups by Murdix put A&M-Corpus Christi back ahead 37-34 at the intermission.
 
The Islanders scored the first five points of the second half after a bucket by Keys and a three by Fryer to go up 42-34 with 18:59 remaining.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi was still in front 53-47 when the Privateers went on a 12-0 run to take their first lead of the game 59-53 at the 8:34 mark. They extended it to 67-57, their largest advantage, with 4:57 left.
 
The Islanders made a push in the last four minutes. Lay-ups by Murdix and Fryer got it going, and a pair of free throws by Murdix cut it to just 67-65 with 2:42 to go. A&M-Corpus Christi still trailed 69-67 with 1:37 left when Green hit a key step back jumper to make it a two-possession game and the Privateers held them off in the last minute.
 
The Islanders will close out the weekend Saturday with a 3:30 p.m. game against Nicholls at Stopher Gym. It will conclude a stretch of four road games in five outings.
 
NOTES
- A&M-Corpus Christi fell for the first time this year when leading at half and is now 11-1.
 
- The Islanders entered the game leading the SLC in steals (8.96) and were right on par with nine. Murdix swiped away three.
 
- Murdix registered his 10th double-figure scoring game of the year and fourth in the last five games. It was the fourth time he pulled down at least seven rebounds.
 
- Tennyson continued his streak of making a three in every game this year. He tallied his 14th double-digit scoring affair and fourth in a row.
 
- Fryer notched his 14th career double-figure scoring game and seventh this year. He was 4-of-6 from the floor and 2-of-4 from long-range.
 
- Keys grabbed his seventh career double-figure rebounding game and fourth this year.
 
Stay Social
Keep up with the women's basketball program via its Facebook page (Islanders Women's Basketball) and follow the program on Twitter (@Islanders_WBB) and Instagram (@IslandersWBB).
 
#ShakasUp