Islanders Topped Late 68-66 on the Road at Lamar

BEAUMONT, Texas – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men's basketball program built a 16-point lead in the second half but Lamar came back to take a 68-66 decision Thursday at the Montagne Center.
 
Senior Isaac Mushila scored to put A&M-Corpus Christi (11-8, 4-2 SLC) ahead 66-65 with 28 seconds left, but Lamar (6-13, 2-4 SLC) answered with a bucket with 8 seconds remaining and grabbed a steal on the other end to hang on.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi led for over 36 minutes in the contest.
 
It was a tale of two halves defensively for the Islanders who limited the Cardinals to a .391 clip from the field in the first half but .500 in the second. Lamar also found a way to get to the free throw line more and was 20-of-34 compared to A&M-Corpus Christi's 8-of-14.
 
Mushila neared a double-double with 20 points and nine rebounds. He was 7-of-12 from the floor and 6-of-7 from the free throw line.
 
Mushila was one of three Islanders in double-figures. Senior Trevian Tennyson tallied 13 points, while senior Terrion Murdix recorded 10 points, a season-high nine assists, four rebounds and four steals. Senior De'Lazarus Keys finished with seven points and eight rebounds.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi outscored Lamar 42-26 in the paint and 18-11 in second chance points.
 
The Cardinals were guided by Nate Calmese's 21 points. Yuto Yamanouchi ended with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
 
The Islanders led 10-6 early after a lay-in by Murdix. They extended it to 19-13 at the 12:41 mark on a three by Tennyson.
 
Still ahead 19-17, A&M-Corpus Christi used a 12-2 spurt to make it a 31-19 game with 5:20 remaining. It included a dunk by Mushila and a jumper near the end of the shot clock by senior Jalen Jackson.
 
The Cardinals got back in it with a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to 32-28 with 1:51 to go after drawing fouls and making free throws. The Islanders scored the last bucket of the half on a floater by Tennyson to carry a 36-30 edge into the locker room.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi led 39-34 in the second half when it used an 11-0 run to extend it to 50-34 as the Cardinals called a timeout with 14:21 left after back-to-back lay-ups by senior Simeon Fryer.
 
Lamar chipped away at the deficit and got it back into single figures 56-48 at the midway point. A lay-up by Murdix had A&M-Corpus Christi ahead 59-51 with 6:20 remaining, but the Cardinals stormed back with an 11-2 spurt to take the lead 62-61 with 2:36 to go.
 
A three-pointer by Tennyson gave the Islanders a 64-62 edge with 1:04 left, but Calmese answered with a three to put Lamar up one with 42 seconds remaining. On the ensuing possession, Mushila scored after Lamar was called for goaltending as the Islanders led 66-65 with 28 seconds to go.
 
Calmese scored the game-winner on a drive from the right with 8 seconds left. The Islanders had a chance in the closing seconds, but a steal was poked away. A&M-Corpus Christi fouled with 0.7 seconds left and after Lamar missed the second free throw, a full court heave hit the backboard but didn't fall.
 
The Islanders will remain on the road Saturday when they face HCU at 7 p.m. at Sharp Gym. The game can be watched live with a subscription to ESPN+ and can also be heard live for free on 1440 AM NewsTalk K-E-Y-S with Steven King on the calls.
 
NOTES
- The Islanders are now 1-1 against Lamar under head coach Steve Lutz. A&M-Corpus Christi defeated the Cardinals last year at home 57-53 in a non-conference game as Lamar spent one season in the WAC.
 
- With a 39-38 rebounding advantage, A&M-Corpus Christi has outrebounded the opposition in all six SLC games this year. The Islanders have also been leading at the half in all six.
 
- A&M-Corpus Christi is now 149-126 all-time in the Southland Conference since joining the league in 2006-07.
 
- The Islanders entered the game ranked top-15 in the nation in steals (9.7 spg) and registered 10 on the night.
 
- Mushila submitted his 36th career double-figure scoring game, 12th this year and third in a row. It was also his 11th career 20-plus scoring outing and sixth this year.
 
- Murdix entered the night leading the conference in both assists (4.7 apg) and steals (2.3 spg) and will improve his averages with nine assists and four steals in the game. His nine assists were one shy of his career-high. Murdix notched his 29th career double-figure scoring game, 12th this year and sixth in a row.
 
- Tennyson turned in his 34th career double-figure scoring game, 14th this year and sixth in a row. He was coming off a career-high 28 points against New Orleans.
 


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