Box Score CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Southeastern Louisiana men's basketball team couldn't fight off a late charge by Texas A&M-Corpus Christi as the Islanders pulled out a 74-71, come-from-behind win in Southland Conference play Thursday at the Dugan Wellness Center.
Southeastern (8-10, 3-4 Southland) shot extremely well in the first half, converting 16-of-26 from the floor (61.5 percent) and 6-of-10 from three-point range, but cooled to 35 percent in the second half as A&M-Corpus Christi (9-11, 6-1 Southland) put together their charge.
"We were a team that was right there, about to congeal and come together," head coach Jim Yarbrough said. "I would've like to get the win tonight. It was very gettable."
Antonnio Benton, who turned in another double-double effort, led all players with 19 points and 14 rebounds. The senior also dished out four assists.
JaMichael Hawkins (14),
Dre Evans (11) and
Jeffery Ricard (11) all scored in double digits for the Lions.
Five Islanders scored double-digit points, led by Jake Kocher with 15. John Jordan (14 points), Zane Knowles (11 points, 11 rebounds), Hameed Ali (10 points) and Rashawn Thomas (10 points) also factored into A&M-Corpus Christi's offensive surge.
Saturday the Lions travel to Houston Baptist (4-15, 1-6 Southland) for a 7:30 p.m. Southland matchup at Sharp Gym (capacity 1,000). With the all-time series split two games apiece, it will be the first hoops contest between the two schools since the 1982-83 season.
"We've got to get back mentally, spiritually, emotionally and get ready for Houston Baptist who will be a tough out," Yarbrough said. "They work very hard and want to prove themselves. We've got to get back and play really well, just like we did today, play with that same mindset."
The Huskies fell, 79-66 at home, Thursday to the University of New Orleans.
HBU has dropped three straight after picking up the first Southland win in school history by outscoring Northwestern State, the conference's top scoring squad.
The game can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU 90.9 FM, online and either the KSLU or TuneIn Radio smartphone app. Fans can also follow along with live statistics, courtesy HBU. Links for audio and stats are available on the basketball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
Southeastern returns home, Jan. 30, to face the University of New Orleans at the University Center. Tickets for all home games can be purchased at www.LionSports.net or by calling the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office, located in the Dugas Center for Southeastern Athletics, at (985) 549-LION.
SOUTHEASTERN LA. (8-10 (3-4 SLC))
Benton, Antonnio 6-13 5-10 19; Hawkins, JaMichael 5-10 3-5 14; Evans, Dre 4-7 0-0 11; Ricard, Jeffery 3-7 4-4 11; Chiera, Julian 3-5 0-0 8; Upson, Devonte 1-3 3-4 5; Filmore, Joshua 1-1 0-0 3; Ochie, Onochie 0-0 0-0 0.
Totals 23-46 15-23 71.
A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI (9-11 (6-1 SLC))
Kocher, Jake 6-7 1-2 15; Jordan, John 3-10 8-10 14; Knowles, Zane 5-6 1-4 11; Ali, Hameed 4-9 0-0 10; Thomas, Rashawn 3-7 4-8 10; Pye, Brandon 3-4 0-0 8; Williamson, Joy 1-6 2-3 4; Beverly, Jeff 1-6 0-0 2; Francis, Dale 0-0 0-0 0.
Totals 26-55 16-27 74.
Southeastern La............ 40 31 - 71
A&M-Corpus Christi...... 33 41 - 74
3-point goals--Southeastern La. 10-17 (Evans, Dre 3-4; Benton, Antonnio 2-3; Chiera, Julian 2-3; Ricard, Jeffery 1-2; Hawkins, JaMichael 1-4; Filmore, Joshua 1-1), A&M-Corpus Christi 6-13 (Pye, Brandon 2-3; Ali, Hameed 2-3; Kocher, Jake 2-2; Thomas, Rashawn 0-1; Williamson, Joy 0-2; Beverly, Jeff 0-1; Jordan, John 0-1).
Fouled out--Southeastern La.-None, A&M-Corpus Christi-None.
Rebounds--Southeastern La. 23 (Benton, Antonnio 14), A&M-Corpus Christi 39 (Knowles, Zane 11).
Assists--Southeastern La. 14 (Benton, Antonnio 4; Evans, Dre 4; Filmore, Joshua 4), A&M-Corpus Christi 15 (Jordan, John 9).
Total fouls--Southeastern La. 20, A&M-Corpus Christi 17.
Technical fouls--Southeastern La.-None, A&M-Corpus Christi-None.
A-1194
