CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Junior Chris Pryor scored a team-high 17 points, and Lamar University held a second half lead, but the Southland Conference co-leading Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders rallied and escaped with 61-52 victory Saturday afternoon at the American Bank Center.
Pryor was joined in double figures by Nate Calmese who hit a half court shot at the buzzer to finish the day with 12 points. LU was 18-of-50 (.360) from the field and 10-of-29 (.345) on three-pointers.
The Islanders picked up the pace in the second half shooting 15-of-25 (.600) to finish the game 23-of-50 (.460) from the field, but just four of those were three-pointers. Corpus Christi took care of their opportunities on the free throw line (11-of-14/.786) and won the battle on the glass, 36-27.
The Islanders jumped out to 12-5 lead and had as many as an eight-point lead but LU got a three-pointer from Cody Pennebaker to trim the deficit down to four points. Unfortunately, that would be the Cards’ final basket for nearly five minutes as the Islanders took a 16-8 advantage midway through the half. The eight-point deficit would be the largest of the half as LU would respond.
After starting the game three for their first 16, the Cardinals knocked down their next six attempts to start a 15-5 run to claim their first lead – 23-21 – on a Pryor layup with 3:22 remaining. Pryor finished the half with a game-high 11 points. The Cardinals carried the momentum into the locker room with a three-point advantage.
LU knocked down just 10 field goals in the opening half but half of those were three-pointers. Big Red also held a 19-16 advantage on the glass in the opening 20 minutes.
A&M-Corpus Christi also struggled offensively in the first half as well. The Islanders knocked down just 8-of-25 (.320) from the field, including a 2-of-8 (.250) effort from long range.
LU took a four-point lead early in the second half but the Islanders responded with a 7-0 run to reclaim the advantage, 35-32. The run stopped on the ensuing possession when Lamar’s Brian Gordon answered with a three-pointer of his own. Despite the Gordon three, A&M-Corpus Christi kept up the pressure taking a 39-36 lead.
The lead grew to as many as nine as the home team rattled off a 15-4 run, but Terry Anderson momentarily quieted things with a three-ball. The Cardinals were able to get a stop on the defensive end which led to a Nate Calmese three (his first of the game), but Corpus Christi answered with a three of its own.
The Cardinals had some chances late but couldn’t get the key basket down the stretch as A&M-Corpus Christi held on for the victory.
The Cardinals return to action Thursday when they host Houston Christian. The game against the Huskies will tip off at approximately 7:30 p.m. (or 30 minutes following the women’s game) from the Montagne Center.