CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Islanders shot 67.9 percent from the floor in the second half to defeat the Privateers 76-61 Saturday afternoon at the American Bank Center. The win improved Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi's record to 8-11 overall and 3-2 in Southland Conference play, while the win streak was snapped at four for the University of New Orleans' (9-8, 4-2 Southland).
Ezekiel Charles finished with 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting and six rebounds, and
Damion Rosser added 12 points, a block and two steals. New Orleans forced 15 turnovers for the 13
th time this season and shot 80.0 percent from the charity stripe.
Four reached double figures for A&M-Corpus Christi, led by Kareem South's 17. For the game, the Islanders shot 53.7 percent.
FIRST HALF
After the Islanders opened the game with a bucket, the Privateers went on an 10-0 run, capped by the
Scott Plaisance Jr. layup off the
Tyren Harrison dish to make it 10-2 UNO with 13:32 remaining.
Moments later, A&M-Corpus Christi went on a 14-0 run to take a 19-12 edge before the pair of free throws for Harrison ended the scoring drought for New Orleans.
Charles' triple with 4:56 to go cut the TAMUCC lead to two. The Islanders took a 30-21 lead with 2:50 left in the first, but again, the resilient Privateers rallied back and went into the break trailing 31-28.
The run started with Rosser's steal and dunk, followed by
Bryson Robinson's steal that led to an and-one for Charles, and another Rosser steal, this time with
Jahmel Myers soaring for a put back to make it 30-28 with 54 ticks to go.
Charles led the Privateers with eight points and four rebounds, Rosser added six points and two steals and Myers pulled down four boards. The A&M-Corpus Christi bench provided 17 of the clubs 31 points in the first half, 10 coming from Irshaad Hunte.
SECOND HALF
A&M-Corpus Christi scored the second's first six points before
Troy Green's and-one. The Islanders extended their lead to double figures and took a 17-point lead with 11:52 remaining.
Gates put an end to the TAMUCC run with an and-one to take the game to the under-12 media.
The 'Ders continued to shoot the ball well and took their largest lead of the game – 22 – with 7:57 remaining. At the under-eight media, A&M-Corpus Christi made 15 of its 18 shots.
New Orleans made it a 13-point game on the Robinson and-one with 4:25 remaining.
The Islanders snapped a five-game losing streak to the Privateers with the 76-61 victory.
NEXT UP
The road trip continues next week with the Privateers visiting the University of Central Arkansas Wednesday, followed by a return to the Lone Star State to battle the University of the Incarnate Word Saturday.
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