Lions Survive Late Push by A&M-Corpus Christi; Islanders Clinch Double Bye at SLC Tournament

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men's basketball program trimmed an 18-point second half deficit down to two in the final minute, but Texas A&M-Commerce hung on for an 84-80 decision Thursday at the American Bank Center.
 
Despite the result, the Islanders (19-10, 12-4 SLC) secured a top-two seed and a double bye at the Southland Conference Tournament. A&M-Corpus Christi is two games ahead of Southeastern (16-13, 10-6 SLC) for third, but SLU got swept by Northwestern State (20-9, 12-4 SLC) and the Islanders have already won one against the Demons which would be the tiebreak if the two teams ended 12-6.
 
Furthermore, the Islanders would clinch the No. 1 seed Saturday with a win over Northwestern State. A&M-Corpus Christi would be a game ahead and will have swept the season series with one game remaining. The Islanders are looking to win a championship in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history.
 
The Islanders fell behind a hot-shooting A&M-Commerce (13-17, 9-7 SLC) squad when they rallied late, but the Lions made all six of their free throw attempts in the final minute to escape. A&M-Commerce shot .633 from the field in the game including .654 in the second half.
 
It snapped an eight-game winning streak for A&M-Corpus Christi, which was the eighth longest active streak in the country.
 
The Islanders garnered a pair of 20-plus scoring performances. Senior Trevian Tennyson netted a game-high 22 points and was 5-of-8 from long range. Senior Terrion Murdix, the reigning SLC Player of the Week winner, recorded 21 points, six rebounds and six assists.
 
Senior Isaac Mushila tallied 14 points and seven rebounds. He was 7-of-11 from the floor.
 
The Lions finished five double-figure scorers. C.J. Roberts totaled a team-high 19 points and was 11-of-12 from the free throw line including 6-of-6 in the final minute.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi lead 12-9 at the 13:53 mark after a second chance bucket by freshman Owen Dease. Still ahead 20-17, the Lions went on a 10-0 run to leap ahead 27-20 at the 5:25 mark.
 
The Islanders answered with a three by Tennyson and an and-one to trail 27-26 with 4:44 to go. The Lions pushed their lead back up to 35-28, but A&M-Corpus Christi got it down to 38-36 at the half after free throws by senior De'Lazarus Keys.
 
A&M-Commerce came out hot in the second half and built a 47-36 edge with 17:38 remaining. Its largest advantage was 63-45 with 10:50 left.
 
A basket by Murdix in the paint started a 9-0 run for the Islanders as a lay-in by Tennyson got it into single-figures 63-54 with 8:02 to go. A field goal by Mushila further chopped it to 68-63 with 4:36 remaining.
 
The Islanders had the ball down 76-73 with 2:02 left but the Lions were able to get a stop after a missed shot. A&M-Corpus Christi kept pushing and trimmed it to 80-78 with 12 seconds remaining after a steal and lay-up by Murdix, but the Lions were able to close it out at the free throw line.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi will host Northwestern State at 4:30 p.m. Saturday on Homecoming and Senior Day. The Islanders beat the Demons 65-59 in the first meeting this year in Natchitoches.
 
NOTES
- Thursday was the first-ever meeting between the Islanders and the Lions. The two teams will play again on Wednesday, March 1 in Commerce.
 
- The Islanders are one win away from their second consecutive 20-win season. Second-year head coach Steve Lutz is the only coach in program history to reach 20 wins in his first season, let alone first two. A&M-Corpus Christi last recorded consecutive 20-win seasons in 2015-17. It would be the seventh 20-win season in program history.
 
- With a 30-28 edge on the glass, A&M-Corpus Christi has outrebounded 14 of 16 opponents in conference. The Islanders outscored the Lions 19-9 in second chance points.
 
- A&M-Corpus Christi entered the game ranked eighth in the nation in free throw percentage (.785) and shot .792 on the night. Murdix was 7-of-8 and senior Jalen Jackson was 4-of-4.
 
- The Islanders dropped to 12-2 at home this year, 223-108 all-time at home and 148-78 in the American Bank Center.
 
- Lutz is now 42-22 overall in two seasons.
 
- A&M-Corpus Christi is 157-128 all-time in the Southland Conference since joining the league in 2006-07.
 
- In just his second season, Tennyson is chasing the school record for three-pointers made in a career. He's currently fifth with 162 and is trying to catch Brandon Pye who made 180 from 2012-16. Tennyson has made 88 this year, which is two away from the single-season record of 90 by Josh Washington in 2006-07.
 
- Tennyson has scored in double-figures in all 16 conference games. It was his ninth career 20-plus scoring performance and sixth this year. It was also the eighth time in his career and fifth time this season that he's made at least five threes in a game.
 
- Murdix entered the game leading the SLC in assists (5.3 apg) and dished out six. It was his sixth career 20-plus scoring outing and third this year. It was also his 37th double-figure scoring game and 20th this year.
 
- Mushila reached double-figures for the 42nd time in his career and 18th this year.
 


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