A&M-Corpus Christi Shakes Off McNeese 83-72

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Leading for nearly the entire game, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men's basketball program closed out an 83-72 win over McNeese on Saturday at the American Bank Center.
 
The Islanders (13-9, 6-3 SLC) were up 72-68 with 5:11 remaining when they went on a 10-0 run to put it away. It was the 14th consecutive win for A&M-Corpus Christi over McNeese (5-17, 2-7 SLC) dating back to 2013.
 
The Islanders shot 11-of-19 (.579) from three-point range and made 17 more free throws than the Cowboys in the victory. Senior Trevian Tennyson was 6-of-9 from beyond-the arc for 18 points.
 
Game-highs of 23 points and eight rebounds were tallied by senior Isaac Mushila. He was 6-of-10 from the floor and 11-of-12 from the free throw line. Senior Terrion Murdix also turned in a solid performance of 15 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and three steals.
 
McNeese crashed the glass early and held a plus-10 rebounding advantage in the first half, but ended with a slight 31-30 edge on the boards to become the first team to outrebound the Islanders in conference this year. The Islanders outrebounded the Cowboys 19-12 in the second half.
 
The Cowboys were led by Christian Shumate's 15 points and six rebounds. Zach Scott finished with 13 points.
 
McNeese started ahead 8-6 at the 16:18 mark but never led again after lay-ups by senior De'Lazarus Keys and Murdix. A pair of free throws by Mushila put the Islanders up 20-15 at the 11:03 mark.
 
A three-pointer in transition by Tennyson pushed it up to 28-18 with 7:27 to go. The largest lead of the half, 39-29, came after a three by Murdix with 3:37 remaining. The Cowboys hit a three on their final possession of the half but A&M-Corpus Christi led 46-40 at the intermission.
 
After another three by McNeese on its first possession of the second half, the Islanders responded with an 8-0 run as a lay-up by Mushila made it a 54-43 game with 17:35 left.
 
The Cowboys clawed back in it and cut the deficit to 58-54 after a three by Scott at the 13:06 mark.  However, A&M-Corpus Christi answered with threes by senior Jalen Jackson and graduate Ross Williams to push it back up to 64-54 with 11:37 remaining.
 
McNeese again tried to make a comeback late and trimmed it to 72-68 with 5:11 to go, but the Islanders punched back as a three by Jackson started the decisive 10-0 run to lead 82-68 with 2:18 left.
 
Up next, the Islanders will travel to New Orleans for a 7 p.m. game Thursday. A&M-Corpus Christi won the first meeting against the Privateers this year 97-79 at home.
 
NOTES
- A&M-Corpus Christi improved to 17-5 all-time against McNeese, 10-1 at home and 4-0 under head coach Steve Lutz.
 
- The Islanders entered the game leading the Southland Conference in scoring (80.1 ppg), free throw percentage (.771), assists (15.9 apg), assist:turnover ratio (1.2) and steals (9.4 spg). They will improve upon all totals with 83 points, a .846 free throw percentage, 21 assists, 13 turnovers and 10 steals.
 
- A&M-Corpus Christi is now 10-1 at home this year, 221-107 all-time at home and 146-78 at the American Bank Center.
 
- McNeese's largest scoring run was only six consecutive points. The Islanders have only given up a scoring run of 10 or more consecutive points one time this season, making them one of 12 teams in the nation to do so, per Hoop Power Analytics.
 
- A&M-Corpus Christi is now 151-127 all-time in the Southland Conference since joining the league in 2006-07.
 
- Murdix turned in a career week for assists, averaging 12.0 over the two games against Nicholls and McNeese. He registered his 32nd career double-figure scoring game, 15 this season and ninth in a row (every SLC game). Murdix is averaging 16.0 points, 7.6 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 2.4 steals in conference.
 
- Mushila notched his 38th career double-figure scoring game and 14th this season. It was the second straight game he made 11 free throws (a season-high).
 
- Tennyson stayed hot from the floor and recorded his 37th career double-figure scoring game and 17th this year. His six made threes matched a career-high. Tennyson is shooting .543 from long-range in conference and was 11-of-18 (.611) over the weekend.
 
Suits & Sneakers Week
A&M-Corpus Christi is participating in a nationwide event where basketball coaches across the country unite for a common cause – saving lives from cancer. Coaches are working with the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) to raise funds and awareness about the fight against cancer and promote the American Cancer Society as a source of inspiration and hope for those facing cancer.
 


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