CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A tough Southeastern Louisiana defense gave Southland Conference-leading Texas A&M-Corpus Christi fits in the first half, but the Islanders pulled away in the second half for a 73-63 win Tuesday at the American Bank Center.
Southeastern (3-16, 1-5 Southland) has faced a tough schedule in the early part of conference play taking on three teams, including the Islanders (16-3, 7-0 Southland), that are still undefeated in Southland play.
Falling behind, 9-3, on a Rashawn Thomas layup at the 17:17 mark of the first half Southeastern tightened up defensively as it started to climb back toward an early lead.
Marlain Veal nailed a jumper 29 seconds later and sparked the Lions on a 10-2 run, claiming a 13-11 lead on
JaMichael Hawkins' 3-pointer from the corner at the 13:41 mark.
Just moments later Veal, defending a layup attempt off a Lion turnover, swatted Hameed Ali's shot a couple rows deep into the stands for early highlight-reel material.
The Islanders kept trying to pull away, but Southeastern continued to play scrappy basketball. A&M-Corpus Christi never led by more than four points the rest of the half.
Hawkins' defense keyed a Southeastern run to tie the game with a pair of steals in a 21 second span, tying the game on his layup with 1:33 to play in the half.
Ehab Amin sank a free throw with 1:16 left in the half to put the Islander up, 28-27, heading into the locker room.
In the second half the Islanders opened up their largest lead of the game to that point, 59-38, using an 22-4 run capped by Jelani Currie's layup at the 9:32 mark.
The Lions clawed back in the game late, shaving 11 points off A&M-Corpus Christi's lead in a span of 2:12 thanks to some key free throws, but the Islanders' advantage proved too much.
Veal followed up a career high in points with 16 to lead the Lions.
Jordan Capps (13),
Joshua Filmore (12), Hawkins (11) and
Dimi Cook (10) also reached double digits. Filmore grabbed a career-high seven rebounds to lead the squad.
Southeastern shot 37 percent (20-of-54) from the floor, including 33.3 percent (6-of-18) from 3-point range. The Lions converted 17-of-21 (81 percent) from the free throw line.
Brandon Pye and Amin led the Islanders in double-figure scoring with 17 points each. Thomas (13) and Ali (11) all contributed heavily to the offensive attack. Thomas, the conference's leading rebounder, and Bryce Douvier both grabbed a game-high 12 boards.
A&M-Corpus Christi shot 44.2 percent (23-of-52) from the floor, including 40 percent (8-of-20) from 3-point range. The Cardinals converted just 19-of-29 (65.5 percent) from the free throw line and out-rebounded Southeastern, 42-29.
The Lions return to the court at 3 p.m. Saturday in Natchitoches, Louisiana, at in-state rival Northwestern State for another Southland contest. Southeastern then takes to the University Center floor, Feb. 1, against McNeese State for the annual Jam the Jungle game.
Advanced tickets for home basketball games can be purchased online at www.LionSports.net/Tickets or through the Southeastern Athletic Ticket Office, located in Room 107 of the Dugas Center for Southeastern Athletics.
Courtside Top Cat seats are $25 while general admission tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for children (age 3-12). Southeastern students will be admitted free to home games with a valid university ID card. For more information, contact the ticket office at (985) 549-5466 or 1-866-LION-TIX. Ticket office hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Fridays.
