First-Place Islanders Look to Complete Season Sweeps over Nicholls, McNeese

THIBODEAUX, La. – Having won six games in a row, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi will travel to Nicholls at 7 p.m. Thursday at Stopher Gym, and McNeese at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Legacy Center.
 
The Islanders (17-9, 10-3 SLC) are going for season sweeps over both Nicholls (13-11, 8-4 SLC) and McNeese (7-19, 4-9 SLC). A&M-Corpus Christi won the first meeting 96-86 over the Colonels and 83-72 over the Cowboys to begin the six-game winning-streak.
 
Though, the Islanders will have to knock off a Nicholls squad that is 8-0 at home this year and 40-3 at home since 2018-19.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi is coming off an unbeaten home weekend over HCU 91-68 and Lamar 61-52. Most recently, the Islanders gave up the fewest points in a game this season against the Cardinals and shot .600 from the field in the second half.
 
The Islanders are tied for first in the SLC standings with Northwestern State at 10-3. They beat the Demons 65-59 in the first meeting on the road but the two schools will play again on Feb. 25 in Corpus Christi.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi has four student-athletes averaging in double-figures. Senior Trevian Tennyson posts 15.2 points per game while senior Isaac Mushila nearly averages a double-double with 14.8 points and 9.9 rebounds per game (15.5 pts/10.4 rebs in conference).
 
Senior Terrion Murdix averages 12.5 points per outing and leads the conference in both assists (5.4 apg) and steals (2.2 spg). Graduate Ross Williams scores 10.5 points per game and is third in the SLC in 3FG% (.406).
 
The Islanders have been hot from long range in conference play where they are .398 (104-261) as a team. Most notably, Tennyson is 48-of-98 (.490) and averages a team-high 18.5 points per game in conference. He's scored in double-figures in all 13 SLC games.
 
Nicholls has won three in a row and is coming off an 88-77 road win at Southeastern. Caleb Huffman leads the team with 15.9 points per game and was named the SLC Player of the Week winner on Monday.
 
McNeese is also coming off a good weekend with victories over SLU 69-66 and New Orleans 79-78. Christian Shumate is the team leader in both scoring and rebounding with 12.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per outing.
 
The games can be watched with a subscription on ESPN+. They can also be heard live for free on 1440 AM NewsTalk K-E-Y-S with Steven King on the calls.
 
NOTES
- A&M-Corpus Christi is 12-9 all-time against the Colonels and 17-5 against the Cowboys. The Islanders have won 14 straight against McNeese dating back to 2013.
 
- The Islanders have only given up a scoring run of 10 or more consecutive points one time this season, making them one of just two teams in the nation to do so along with Auburn.
 
- A&M-Corpus Christi has outrebounded 12 of 13 conference opponents so far. The team leads the SLC in rebounding margin (+3.8) as well as scoring (80.3 ppg), free throw percentage (.779), assists (15.8 apg), assist:turnover ratio (1.2) and defensive rebounding (25.0 rpg).
 
- The Islanders have scored over 80 points in five of the six games during their winning-streak. The streak started when they changed their starting lineup to seniors Murdix, Jalen Jackson, Tennyson, Simeon Fryer and Mushila. It was their 10th different starting lineup on the year.
 
- The Islanders rank 8th in the nation in free throw percentage (.777), 14th in steals per game (9.3) and 25th in turnovers forced per game (16.2). Individually, Mushila is 14th in rebounds per game (9.9), 16th in double-doubles (11) and 19th in off. rebounds per game (3.4), and Murdix is 21st in steals per game (2.2).
 
- In two seasons under Lutz, the Islanders are 16-0 when they shoot over 50 percent from the field and 25-2 when the opposition scores below 70 points.
 
- The Islanders are 8-0 SLC this year when they have more fast break points than the opposition.
 
- A&M-Corpus Christi is 155-127 all-time in the Southland Conference since joining the league in 2006-07.
 
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