Top-Seeded A&M-Corpus Christi Opens SLC Tournament against Host McNeese in Semifinals on ESPNU

LAKE CHARLES, La. – Finding out its opponent Monday evening, the top-seeded Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men's basketball program will face eighth-seeded McNeese at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Legacy Center in the semifinals of the Southland Conference Tournament.
 
The game will be played on McNeese's (11-22, 6-12 SLC) home court as the host institution. The Cowboys knocked off fifth-seeded A&M-Commerce 79-78 and fourth-seeded Nicholls 77-71 in the first two rounds.
 
The Islanders (21-10, 14-4 SLC), who have won 10 of the last 11 games, won the SLC regular season title outright to earn a double bye to the semifinals. It was the program's fourth championship in program history, second regular season title and first since 2006-07. The Islanders have won championships in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history after winning the SLC Tournament last year.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi is looking to become the first school to win the SLC Tournament in back-to-back years since UL-Monroe in 1992-94 (tournament titles were vacated from Stephen F. Austin in 2015 and 2016).
 
The Islanders landed three All-Conference selections for the first time in program history. Seniors Terrion Murdix and Isaac Mushila were tabbed to the First-Team and senior Trevian Tennyson to the Second-Team.
 
Murdix became just the second SLC Defensive Player of the Year in program history along with Rashawn Thomas in 2015-16. Murdix was also on the All-Defensive Team in the second year in a row. He led the league in steals and ranks 12th in the nation with 2.34 per game and is also 19th in the country in assists per game (5.6)
 
Lutz became the second SLC Coach of the Year in program history and first since Ronnie Arrow in 2006-07. He's 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 was the seventh 20-win season in program history.
 
The Islanders rank sixth in the nation in free throw percentage (.791), 18th in steals per game (9.0) and 19th in scoring (80.6 ppg). Individually, in addition to Murdix, Mushila is 11th in free throws made (158), 6th in rebounds per game (9.8) and 22nd in double-doubles (12), and Tennyson is 15th in threes made (94) and top-25 in 3FG% (.412).
 
Tennyson has already broken the school record for threes made in a season with 94. He surpassed Josh Washington's mark of 90 in 2006-07. Tennyson is now eyeing the career record in just his second season as his 168 makes are just 12 behind Brandon Pye's 180 from 2012-16.
 
Tennyson scored in double-figures in all 18 SLC games. He leads the team in scoring with 15.8 points per game on the year and 18.6 in conference.
 
With 12 double-doubles, Mushila is one away from tying the program's single-season record of 13 set by himself last year and Rashawn Thomas in 2016-17. The school record for career double-doubles is 35 by Thomas in four seasons, while Mushila has tallied 25 in his second season.
 
Mushila nearly averages a double-double with 14.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per outing. He led the league in rebounding.
 
Murdix ranks first in the conference in assists (5.6 apg), assist:turnover ratio (2.4) and steals (2.3 spg). He averages 13.7 points per game on the year.
 
NOTES
- A&M-Corpus Christi swept the season series over the Cowboys and have won 15 consecutive meetings dating back to 2013.
 
- The Islanders are 11-9 all-time in SLC Tournament games, 3-0 under head coach Steve Lutz, 4-4 in the semifinals and 1-0 against McNeese. The only time the two squads have ever met in the SLC Tournament was in the semifinals in 2006-07, which the Islanders won 87-66 en route to winning the title.
 
- Lutz carries a 44-22 overall record in two seasons. He was named a finalist for the Skip Prosser Man of the Year award, presented to those who not only achieve success on the court but who display moral integrity off of it as well.
 
- A&M-Corpus Christi outrebounded 16 of 18 conference opponents.
 
- The Islanders only gave up a scoring run of 10 or more consecutive points one time in conference and just twice on the entire season.
 
- A&M-Corpus Christi has the highest NET Ranking in the SLC at 189.
 
- The Islanders won four SLC Player of the Week awards as a team. Murdix and Mushila each won twice. Mushila is the reigning SLC Player of the Week winner.
 
- The Islanders finished 13-2 at home this year. A&M-Corpus Christi is 224-108 all-time at home and 149-79 at the American Bank Center. The Islanders also finished the regular season on a five-game road winning-streak.
 
- In two seasons under Lutz, the Islanders are 16-0 when they shoot over 50 percent from the field and 26-2 when the opposition scores below 70 points.
 
- The Islanders went on an eight-game winning-streak in conference. It was the eighth longest active streak in the nation.
 
- The Islanders shot .401 from long range in conference as a team. Most notably, Tennyson was 67-of-138 (.486).
 
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