SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men's basketball team secured its sixth consecutive victory and conference win after holding off UIW 69-63 Saturday night in the McDermott Center.
The Islanders (13-6, 6-1 SLC) led the majority of the game and fended off any of UIW's (9-9, 205 SLC) attempt in reversing control through the end. It is the first game in the last six that the Islanders didn't shoot above 50.0 percent from the field, but still turned in a 46.4 field goal percentage (26-56) while they held UIW on the other end to just a 36.4 clip (24-66).
The Islanders also held a slight advantage on the glass, outrebounding the Cardinals 41-38 including 32-27 in defensive boards.
The only deficit the Islanders found themselves in all night was over with within the first minute of the game, after UIW scored first which was covered by the three-pointer from senior
Garry Clark at 19:10 to go up 3-2 and never look back. Clark and freshman
Isaac Williams bucketed back-to-back shots, and a lead began to grow for the Islanders as a long-range shot from senior
Jordan Roberts created a 21-9 advantage to force a UIW timeout at 12:15.
Redshirt junior
Owen Dease took his share of shooting beyond-the-arc and connected on his three to balloon their lead to 26-11 with 9:49 to go in the first half. However, the Islanders went cold for five minutes as UIW clawed back within five at 27-22 before Clark hit the turnaround jumper to get back on track. Senior
Dian Wright-Forde then drove the lane in the final possession and gave the Islanders a 33-26 cushion at the break.
UIW got hot within four points to start the second half, but freshman
Damarion Dennis pushed the Islanders back up to a 40-31 lead off the deep ball. Redshirt senior
Jaden Walker got up for the flush at 15:20 to go up by double digits and immediately followed it up with the steal and one-handed slam for a 46-33 lead.
The Islanders would hold at least a two-possession lead the rest of the way, sealing the victory with some made free throws down the stretch.
Clark led all scorers with 16 points, going 6-of-13 from the field in addition to pulling down 10 boards for the double-double. He was joined in double figures by Walker who packed his stat line with 10 points, three rebounds, three steals, and three assists. Roberts ended with 11 points off the bench aided by a pair of first-half threes.
Clark has scored 10+ points in every game this season. Dating back to last year, he is now on a 26-game streak of scoring in double figures, which continues to be the longest active streak in the NCAA.
The Islanders will now take their road show to Houston next, taking on HCU Monday night at 7 p.m.
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