HAMMOND, La. – Three Lion big men fouled out in the second half while Texas A&M- Corpus Christi completed a 19-point swing on its way to defeating Southeastern Louisiana, 70-61, in Southland Conference play Monday at the University Center.

Southeastern (5-14, 2-4 Southland) led by as much as 10 late in the first half, after Zay Jackson converted a pair of free throws with 3:43 remaining until halftime. A&M-Corpus Christi (11-8, 6-1 Southland), which has won seven of its last eight games, whittled away at the Lion lead and trailed by one after the first 20 minutes of play.

With Southeastern holding on to a 50-48 lead, the Islanders' John Jordan hit a jumper with 9:37 remaining to tie the game and then converted a free throw to finish off a three-point play. A&M-Corpus Christi started to stretch out its lead.

In foul trouble for most of the second half, Southeastern's DeVonte Upson, Onochie Ochie and Daniel Grieves fouled out as the Lions tried to rally down the stretch.

Ochie led a trio of Lions in double-digit scoring with 15 points and hauled in a game-high eight rebounds. Grieves added 14 and Zay Jackson chipped in 13 points. Grieves and Cedric Jenkins each picked up seven boards.

Southeastern shot 41.8 percent from the floor (23-of-55), including 7.7 percent from three-point range (2-of-26). The Lions converted 13-of-23 from the free throw line (56.5 percent) and out-rebounded A&M-Corpus Christi, 40-35.

Rashawn Thomas poured in a game-high 22 points while Jordan, the Southland Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week, added 18 points. Bryce Douvier grabbed eight boards and Thomas hauled in seven more.

A&M-Corpus Christi shot 42.3 percent from the floor (22-of-52), including 50 percent from three-point range (7-of-14). The Islanders converted 19-of-33 from the free throw line (57.6 percent).

Southeastern hosts in-state foes Northwestern State and McNeese State to wrap up a three-game homestand.. Saturday the Lions will celebrate Military Appreciation Day at 7 p.m. against the Demons of Northwestern State. The Feb. 2 contest against McNeese State is Southeastern's annual Jam The Jungle game with free food and t-shirts distributed to the first 250 SLU students in attendance.


TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI (11-8, 6-1 SLC)
Thomas, Rashawn 6-11 10-13 22; Jordan, John 7-13 3-9 18; Pye, Brandon 2-10 2-3 8; Francis, Dale 2-3 0-0 6; Douvier, Bryce 2-7 1-2 6; Toney, Emmanuel 1-3 2-2 4; Martinez, Cole 1-1 0-0 3; Currie, Jelani 1-3 0-0 2; Amin, Ehab 0-1 1-2 1; Kilgore, Joe 0-0 0-2 0. Totals 22-52 19-33 70.

SOUTHEASTERN LA. (5-14, 2-4 SLC)
Ochie, Onochie 6-8 3-5 15; Grieves, Daniel 6-9 2-4 14; Jackson, Zay 4-12 4-8 13; Jenkins, Cedric 3-10 0-0 7; Barclay, Bret 1-1 3-4 5; Upson, DeVonte 2-4 0-0 4; Filmore, Joshua 1-10 1-2 3; Duplessis, Jimmie 0-1 0-0 0; Maggio, Dylon 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-55 13-23 61.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi......... 31 39 - 70
Southeastern La........................... 32 29 - 61


3-point goals--Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 7-14 (Pye, Brandon 2-4; Francis, Dale 2-3; Jordan, John 1-1; Martinez, Cole 1-1; Douvier, Bryce 1-5), Southeastern La. 2-26 (Jenkins, Cedric 1-8; Jackson, Zay 1-7; Filmore, Joshua 0-9; Grieves, Daniel 0-2). Fouled out--Texas A&M-Corpus Chr-Toney, Emmanuel; Douvier, Bryce, Southeastern La.-Ochie, Onochie; Grieves, Daniel; Upson, DeVonte. Rebounds--Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 35 (Douvier, Bryce 8), Southeastern La. 40 (Ochie, Onochie 8). Assists--Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 8 (Jordan, John 4), Southeastern La. 12 (Jenkins, Cedric 5). Total fouls--Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 22, Southeastern La. 30. Technical fouls--Texas A&M-Corpus Christi-None, Southeastern La.-None. A-615