LAKE CHARLES, La. – Four starters scored in double-figures for the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men's basketball program in an 80-63 win over McNeese on Saturday in the semifinals of the Southland Conference Tournament at the Legacy Center.
The Islanders (22-10, 14-4 SLC) will enter the championship game having won 11 of their last 12 games. They will look to defend their tournament title and win their third championship in two seasons.
The game was played on McNeese's (11-23, 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 to reach the semifinals.
The Islanders garnered a big night from senior
De'Lazarus Keys who scored a team and season-high 18 points to go along with 10 rebounds. SLC Defensive Player of the Year and All-Conference First-Team selection
Terrion Murdix recorded 17 points, six assists, four rebounds and three steals.
Senior
Trevian Tennyson, an All-Conference Second-Team honoree, netted 16 points. Fellow senior
Jalen Jackson tallied 13 points and a career-high eight rebounds.
A&M-Corpus Christi outscored McNeese 48-30 in the paint.
The Cowboys were led by Christian Shumate who ended with a big double-double of 30 points and 15 rebounds in 40 minutes. Johnathan Massie aided the attack with 18 points.
The Islanders led 8-5 early after a bucket underneath by Murdix. After the Cowboys went up 11-8, A&M-Corpus Christi responded with a big 12-0 run as a three by graduate
Ross Williams made it 20-11 at the 9:00 mark.
After McNeese cut it to 24-17, A&M-Corpus Christi answered with a lay-up by Keys, an old-fashion three-point play by senior
Isaac Mushila and a runner by Tennyson to lead 31-17 with 3:38 to go.
The Cowboys ended the half on a 9-2 run which included a three at the buzzer, but the Islanders took a 36-28 advantage into the locker room.
Back-to-back lay-ins by Murdix had A&M-Corpus Christi up 49-38 with 14:31 remaining in the second. A field goal by Keys in the post and a bucket by Tennyson kept the Islanders in front 58-46 with 9:44 left.
The Cowboys could never get within striking distance down the stretch. A three-pointer by Jackson had A&M-Corpus Christi leading 67-52 at the 4:52 mark, and a dunk by Keys put an exclamation point on the night 78-58 with 1:48 to go.
The Islanders advance to the championship game where they will face either No. 2 Northwestern State or No. 7 New Orleans at 4 p.m. Wednesday on ESPN2.
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).
NOTES
- The Islanders earned a double bye to the semifinals after winning the SLC regular season title outright. 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 completed a three-game sweep over the Cowboys this year and have won 16 consecutive meetings dating back to 2013.
- The Islanders improved to 12-9 all-time in SLC Tournament games, 4-0 under head coach
Steve Lutz, 5-4 in the semifinals and 2-0 against McNeese. The only time the two squads had ever met in the SLC Tournament prior to tonight was in the semifinals in 2006-07, which the Islanders won 87-66 en route to winning the title.
- Lutz carries a 45-22 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.
- McNeese's biggest scoring run was six consecutive points. 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.
- The Islanders entered the game ranked sixth in the nation in free throw percentage (.791) and shot 15-of-17 (.882) from the line.
- In two seasons under Lutz, the Islanders are 27-2 when the opposition scores below 70 points.
- Murdix began play ranked 12th in the nation in steals per game (2.34) and 19th in assists per game (5.6) and will improve upon both averages with three steals and six assists in the contest. Murdix posted his 40th career double-figure scoring game and 23rd this season.
- Keys submitted his first double-double of the season and fourth of his career. He was one point shy of his career-high of 19 set against Southeastern on Feb. 22, 2021. Keys notched his 22nd career double-figure scoring game and sixth of the season, as well as his ninth career double-digit rebounding affair and second this year.
- Tennyson already broken the school record for threes made in a season with 96. 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 170 makes are just 10 behind Brandon Pye's 180 from 2012-16. Tennyson etched his 47th career double-figure scoring game, 27th this season and 19th in a row.
- Jackson turned in his 15th career double-figure scoring game and eighth this year. His eight rebounds surpassed his previous career-high of six set last season in the championship game against SLU.
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