LAKE CHARLES, La. – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men's basketball team will get its second half of the SLC slate with a bang, heading to rematch McNeese and Nicholls on the road this weekend.
The Islanders (14-8, 7-2 SLC) will seek revenge over McNeese (20-3, 9-1 SLC) in the second round, as the teams sit in a similar position as last time with a fight for first. That game is set for Saturday at 4 p.m. before A&M-Corpus Christi continues to Nicholls (12-10, 7-2 SLC) for a 6:30 p.m. tip on Monday. There, the Islanders will go for the season sweep over the Colonels after topping them 69-59 earlier this year.
It will be another battle at the top as the Islanders sit in second place with Nicholls after topping Lamar 79-71. They sit just one game behind McNeese, as a win would create a tie at the top. This time around, the teams combine to continue leading the league in all those marks in addition to assist/turnover ratio.
The game against Lamar marked the second time in the last three games that A&M-Corpus Christi made nine field goals from beyond-the-arc. They have shot over 33.3 percent from the three in five SLC games this season, winning every conference game when they make more threes than their opponent.
Redshirt senior
Dayne Prim is coming off a season best 19-point performance against the Cardinals after going 8-of-11 from the field. He is averaging in double figures against Southland opponents, putting up 10.1 points per outing. Junior
Garry Clark has either recorded 10+ points or 10+ rebounds in seven SLC game this season, recording a double-double in four of them. He leads the team in both with 11.5 ppg and 8.2 rpg, as well as 13.0 ppg in conference play.
Clark's 8.2 rpg ranks third in the SLC, though, he seconds the league in off. rebounds with 3.2 per game to rank 34th in the NCAA. Redshirt sophomore
Stephen Giwa ranks fifth in off. rebounding with 2.5 per outing.
Graduate
Marion Humphrey leads the SLC in assist/turnover ratio (2.9) to rank 27th in the NCAA and ranks fourth in assists (3.5 apg). Senior
Lance-Amir Paul ranks third in FT% (.783).
A rebound-heavy team, A&M-Corpus Christi tops the conference in rebounds, off. rebounding, def. rebounding (27.1 drpg), and rebounding margin (+7.5). At least seven different Islanders have grabbed a rebound in every game this year.
Both games can be watched live with a subscription to ESPN+ or heard live for free on 144- AM K-E-Y-S with Steven King on the call.
NOTES
- A&M-Corpus Christi leads McNeese 19-6 in the all-time series and 6-4 on the road. The Islanders have won the last six straight against the Cowboys when playing in Lake Charles, seven including in the SLC Semifinals last year which was hosted by McNeese. The Islanders have won 16 of the last 17 meetings with McNeese dating back to 2012- 13.
- The Islanders lead Nicholls 14-9 all-time. The Islanders have won the last four meetings now, beginning the streak with a 71-64 win in the semifinals of the 2022 SLC Tournament to advance to the championship en route to winning the title.
- A&M-Corpus Christi has used a balance scoring attack this season as two Islanders average over 10 points per game. Clark leads it with 11.5 ppg while junior
Dian Wright-Forde trails at 10.1. The Islanders score 75.7 points per game and have 10 student-athletes scoring over 5.0 per outing.
- Last year, the Islanders were 7-2 on the road against Southland opponents en route to winning the regular season championship.
- The Islanders are now 28-1 over the last two seasons when holding the opposition to 70 points or less. They have held seven Southland opponents to less than 70 points this year. On the offensive end, A&M-Corpus Christi is 22-0 over the last three seasons when shooting over .500 FG%.
- The Islanders average 37.27 bench points per game, which ranks #2 overall in the NCAA. A&M-Corpus Christi also nationally ranks top-20 in turnovers forced per game (15.73), off. rebounds per game (13.86), and rebounds per game (41.00).
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