CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men's basketball team traded punches early with UTRGV, but found itself playing from behind for most of the game as shots refused to fall in a physical game two of the South Texas Showdown, presented by Rally Credit Union, dropping 64-55 Monday night.
It was a low scoring first half as each team struggled to connect, shooting less than 30 percent from the field on both sides and unfortunately that stayed with the Islanders (11-10, 7-5 SLC) through to the end who finished with just a 27.7 percent night. Meanwhile, the Vaqueros (10-11, 6-6 SLC) found some rhythm early in the second half and knocked down five threes to create space and finish with 40.8 percent shooting on the night.
Also unkind to the home team was the free throw line, where the Islanders visited 41 times in the physical contest but only netting 26. The rebounding game was close, although the Islanders still trailed on the glass 38-36.
The Islanders struck first, with
Cenker Evran scoring inside at the 19:31 mark to give A&M-Corpus Christi a 2–0 edge, but UTRGV answered quickly and began to control the tempo. Nicholas Shogbonyo knocked down a pull-up jumper at 18:32 to make it 4–0, though missed looks and early offensive rebounding by the Vaqueros kept the Islanders from building momentum.
UTRGV took its first lead up 7–4 at the 14:07 mark. The Islanders stayed within reach, tying the game at 7–7 on a
Mason Gibson basket with 11:21 left, then briefly pulling ahead 8–7 following the and-one. Momentum swung again late in the half as the Islanders struggled to convert and UTRGV closed the final minutes on a small run, capitalizing at the line to take a 24–20 lead into the break.
Out of halftime, A&M-Corpus Christi tried to answer as
Daniel Michelini-Jackson hit a pull-up jumper at 18:11 of the second half to trim the deficit to 30–22, then
Sheldon Williams finished a fast-break layup at 16:56 to make it 32–24. Each time the Islanders pushed, UTRGV answered to keep the margin just out of reach.
The Islanders clawed back again at the free-throw line as Gibson converted a pair at 13:47, cutting the lead to 36–31, and moments later added another to make it a one-possession game at 33–36. But shots continued to rim out down the stretch and despite a late push, time ran out on A&M-Corpus Christi as UTRGV held on for a 64–55 win.
Shogbonyo showed his veteran status by providing a spark for 12 points including netting two of the team's three triples on the night. Gibson and Williams both contributed 10 points coming off the bench while the latter also grabbed six boards. Combined, the two made 14 of the team's 26 free throws tonight.
The Islanders will stay home for this upcoming weekend, hosting HCU Saturday and UIW next Monday back in the Hilliard Center. A&M-Corpus Christi will be going for the season sweep over both after topping the Huskies and Cardinals in the first meetings this year.
#ShakasUp
