LAFAYETTE, La. – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men's basketball team returned to action tonight as they hit the road to face Louisiana. The Islanders won the physical battle, coming away with a 67-60 win that takes their record to 1-1 on the season.
After a slow start in their season opener at Texas State, the Islanders took the fight to the Ragin Cajuns right from the jump with their defensive intensity and effort. They held the home side to just 8-of-21 from the floor and 2-of-6 from deep in the first half.
"I saw guys playing together tonight," said head coach
Jim Shaw. "I thought the defensive end was where we started and allowed us to stay in the game unlike Monday night. From there, the guys fed off each other and played really hard."
Offensively, the Islanders had nine players score in the first 20 minutes. They were led by
Desmond Kent Jr., who came off the bench to score ten points.
Bin Basil and
Dan Mukuna each added six in the half as once again, the Islander's bench outscored their opponents 20-2 in the half. Corpus Christi led by as many as 14, but held a 36-28 lead at the break.
The second half was even more physical than the first, as the teams combined to go to the free-throw line 32 times in the second 20 minutes of play. The Islanders took just 18 shots in the second half, but were efficient as they made nine. They made just enough of their free throws, 11-of-17, down the stretch to keep the Ragin Cajuns at arms distance.
Basil dominated the game down in the paint with his energy and effort on the offensive glass. He finished with a team-high 14 points, as he went 5-of-7 from the floor and 4-of-6 from the line. With the shot clock winding down with just over two minutes left,
Daniel Michelini-Jackson knocked down a deep step-back three-pointer which put the Islanders up 60-47 and ended any hopes of a Lafayette comeback.
The Islanders held the home side to just 31 percent shooting on the night and almost 11 minutes in the second half without a made field goal. Michelini-Jackson reached double figures for the second straight game as he finished with 12 for Corpus Christi. The Islanders once again had just six assists in the game, but they dominated the glass, 40-22, and the paint, 26-16.
The Islanders come home to the Dugan Wellness Center on Tuesday night as they host Dallas Christian. Their home opener is set for 7 p.m. against a Dallas Christian team that is 1-3 on the season and faces Central Christian College on Sunday.
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For the latest news and information on Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men's basketball, visit the official website for Islanders Athletics at goislanders.com. Fans can also follow the Islanders on social media at @Islanders_MBB (Twitter), and @islandersmbb (Instagram).
