WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi went into one of the toughest environments in college basketball and tested the 2023-24 National Finalist before ultimately falling 90-73 to #14 Purdue in Mackey Arena Monday night for the 2024-25 opener.
The Islanders (0-1) kept the nationally ranked Boilermakers (1-0) unsettled early and forced three turnovers within the first two minutes of the game to avert a deficit larger than five points through the first 12 minutes. Though, Purdue went on to rarely miss from distance as the home team's nine three pointers pulled them ahead by 16 at the half.
However, it was a tale of two halves as the Islanders refused another three from Purdue for 10 minutes out of the break as the Boilermakers went 0-9 from long range to start the second half. Meanwhile, A&M-Corpus Christi bucketed 5-for-10 from three to chip back within one possession and remain in striking distance for the majority of the final 10 minutes.
The teams continued to slug it out through the final media timeout, but foul trouble for the Islanders and a 9-0 scoring run with momentum at their back pushed Purdue down the stretch to pull away for the final 90-73 score.
Purdue entered the night having won 35 straight nonconference wins and settled tonight's scare to extend the longest streak in the nation to 36.
The Islanders outscored Purdue 46-38 in the paint but were noticeably missing long-range efficiency until the second half where they made up 15 points. They also kept their early trend of forcing turnovers through the end, causing the Boilermakers to give up the ball 16 times while keeping their own to a minimal nine.
It is the second year in a row that the Islanders had fewer than 10 turnovers in their season opener.
Redshirt junior
Owen Dease showed out in his home state as he came away with his career-high 20 points. It marks his first 10+ scoring game of the season but 16
th career in his career and first ever 20+ scoring game.
Freshman
Isaac Williams also made his presence known in his collegiate debut, coming away with the impressive 12-point, 4-assist, and 3-steal stat line. Two other Islanders joined the pair in double figures as senior
Garry Clark picked up where he left off in 2023-24 with a double figure scoring game of 14 points while senior
Dian Wright-Forde put up 10 points.
It marks Clark's 23
rd 10+ scoring game with the Islanders and Wright-Forde's 17
th as both joined the program last season.
This was the first-ever meeting between A&M-Corpus Christi and Purdue. It was the third time that the Islanders opened their season against a Power opponent after playing at Mississippi State to open 2022-23 (L, 44-63) and taking on Oregon State to start 2009-10 (W, 67-43).
It was just the program's fifth season-opening loss, with A&M-Corpus Christi now holding a 21-5 record in openers.
The Islanders will return to Corpus Christi for their home opener on Friday in the Dugan Wellness Center against Dallas Christian at 7 p.m.
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