CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Nicholls used a run late in the second half to get past the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men's basketball program 86-75 Wednesday on Senior Night at the American Bank Center.
A&M-Corpus Christi (19-11, 6-7 SLC) led 67-64 with 7:33 remaining when Nicholls (20-10, 10-3 SLC) went on a decisive 12-0 run to go up 76-67 with 4:12 left.
The Colonels shot .541 from the floor and hit 10 threes.
It snapped a three-game winning-streak for the Islanders, who were led by senior
De'Lazarus Keys' season-high 17 points and six rebounds. Junior
Isaac Mushila turned in 13 points and six rebounds.
With 10 points apiece were senior
Myles Smith and junior
Terrion Murdix.
The Islanders outrebounded the Colonels 34-29. Though, Nicholls posted a positive turnover margin of 19-14.
A&M-Corpus Christi scored the first eight points of the game as Nicholls called timeout after senior
Myles Smith buried a three. The Islanders increased the lead to 22-11 at the 9:48 mark after a field goal by sophomore
Stephen Faramade.
The Islanders remained in front by double-figures 30-20 with 5:45 to go after a lay-up by Mushila. However, the Colonels ended the half strong and trimmed the deficit to 48-36 heading into the locker room.
A&M-Corpus Christi led 47-46 when it used an 8-0 run to make it 55-46 at the 14:01 mark after a three by junior
Trevian Tennyson. Though, Nicholls responded with an 8-0 spurt of its own to get it back down to 55-54 with 12:43 left.
A pair of free throws by Tennyson kept the Islanders ahead 67-64 with 7:33 remaining, but the team went scoreless for over four minutes after that and Nicholls took advantage with a 12-0 run to catapult ahead.
The Islanders will conclude the regular season at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in a game at UIW. A&M-Corpus Christi defeated the Cardinals 80-64 at home and are going for the season sweep.
A&M-Corpus Christi remains in fourth place in the Southland Conference standings and can solidify the fourth seed and a first round bye in the SLC Tournament with a win Saturday.
NOTES
- The Islanders honored
Simeon Fryer,
Ethan White and
San Antonio Brinson before the game in a ceremony on Senior Night.
- A&M-Corpus Christi finished 9-4 at home this year. The program is 211-104 all-time at home and 140-77 in the American Bank Center.
- The Islanders are now 10-9 all-time against Nicholls and 6-2 at home.
- Keys topped his previous season-high of 16 points set against McNeese at the SLC Preseason Tipoff. He was 8-of-12 from the floor, and his eight field goals tied a career-high. Keys registered his 14th career double-figure scoring game and 11th this year.
- Mushila submitted his 23rd double-figure scoring game of the year. He grabbed a pair of offensive rebounds after entering the game ranked sixth in the nation in that category.
- Murdix entered the game leading the SLC in assists (3.7 apg) and dished out four. It was his 13th double-digit scoring affair of the year.
- Smith etched his 58th career double-figure scoring game, 11th this year and second in a row. He nailed a pair of long-range shots.
- Tennyson continued his streak of hitting a three-pointer in every game this year.
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