EDINBURG, Texas – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men's basketball team had every rally nipped short by UTRGV Saturday as they fell 83-73 in the second meeting of the South Texas Showdown, presented by Rally Credit Union.
It is the third year in a row that the Islanders (14-9, 7-4 SLC) and Vaqueros (13-9, 5-6 SLC) split the yearly series, coming up even at 9-9 in the South Texas Showdown head-to-head since the annual institutional rivalry, presented by Rally Credit Union, began in the 2016-17 season.
After winning the first meeting earlier this year 79-74, the Islanders continue to hold an advantage in this year's institutional competition at 17.0-14.0.
At every attempt the Islanders took to chip away at a lead UTRGV built, the Vaqueros would respond with enough to erase any comeback. Turnovers also seemed to maim the Islanders tonight, with their 18 matching their second most in a game this year while UTRGV managed to take advantage for 23 points.
UTRGV struck first but was quickly matched and raised by redshirt junior
Owen Dease's putback and-one for a 3-2 reversal. Junior
Kam Parker sunk all three of his free throws next, before senior
Garry Clark tipped in the second chance bucket for an 8-0 scoring run. The Vaqueros made it up with a run of their own, before senior
Jordan Roberts went deep to get the Islanders back ahead 11-10 at 14:44.
The teams played within possessions of each other from there, with the Islanders holding a 17-16 edge after redshirt junior
Shilo Jackson converted on the offensive board at 12:33. However, the home squad found a breakthrough as UTRGV pulled ahead 29-17. Clark hit back-to-back jumpers to get back within nine but the Vaqueros teetered on a double figure lead until freshman
Isaac Williams' three-ball attempted to cut the advantage with 1:28 left in the half.
Three-pointers were traded to start the second, as Dease put the Islanders within seven out of the break. Although UTRGV would power back up to a 46-35 lead, the Islanders initiated an attempted rally with back-to-back layups from the freshmen duo of
Damarion Dennis and Williams got the deficit down to just three points.
The Islanders would fight within two points at two different occasions from there, but every time they were answered with UTRGV rattling off enough buckets to stay ahead the rest of the way.
Clark came away with his third consecutive double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. He continues to average a double-double in conference play (15.5 ppg and 10.5 rpg) while also extending his streak of scoring in double figures to 30 games dating back to last season, the longest active streak in NCAA.
Also coming away in double figures were Dease (15), Williams (13), and Roberts (10). The four accounted for 21 of the team's 28 made field goals tonight.
The Islanders will take their road trip up to Commerce, facing East Texas A&M Monday night at 6:30 p.m. in the first and only matchup against the Lions this year.
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