KATY, Texas – Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and New Orleans played a knockdown, drag out slugfest that came down to the final five seconds, a period of time that allowed the Islanders to survive for at least one more game.
A commitment to defense midway in the second half proved to be the key to third-seed Texas A&M-Corpus Christi escaping Merrell Center with a 61-58 win over seventh-seed New Orleans on Thursday night in a game that wasn’t decided until a pair of missed treys by the Privateers in the closing seconds finally gave the Islanders (19-12) a reason to finally breathe.
“Three games and it just seemed like three battle royals,” said Texas A&M-Corpus Christi coach Willis Wilson after the victory gave the Islanders a sweep of the Privateers (11-18) and a matchup against third-seed Sam Houston State on Friday night.
New Orleans – which lost all three games to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi by a combined 10 points – had two chances to tie the game, but Kevin Brown and Travin Thibodeux each missed 3-pointers in the final five seconds.
Shooting just 38 percent from the field, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi mustered enough offense during the middle of the second half that offset the fact the Islanders managed just one field goal in the final 4:53, scoring four of their last six points via the charity stripe.
The Islanders defense blinked during an 8-0 run that allowed the Privateers to take a 42-34 lead with 15:17 left, but refocused afterwards, as they held New Orleans to only three field goals in the last 9:30 of the contest.
“We really got out of sorts a little bit, but we refocused on the things that we do and really dial in on those things,” said Wilson. “That really paid off for us from that point forward.”
New Orleans shot just 26.9 percent from the field in the second half, including just 1 for 8 outside the arc.
“I thought we attacked hard,” said Privateers coach Mark Slessinger. “I thought we executed when we went to draw contact. Sometimes, the shot’s just aren’t going to fall, but I thought we got some good looks.”
Tied at 44-44, the game’s momentum swung in a nine-second sequence midway through the second half when Islanders forward Bryce Douvier blocked a Kevin Brown shot before he knocked down what would prove to be Texas A&M-Corpus Christi’s only 3-pointer of the night, which gave them the lead for good with 7:56 remaining.
“I was wide open,” said Douvier, who had only hit one of his six attempts at that point. “Our philosophy is ‘inside-out, no doubt,’ so as soon as Rashawn (Thomas) kicked it out, I just pulled the trigger.”
John Jordan led all scorers with 22 points to go along with six rebounds, five steals and four assists for the Islanders, while Thomas added 13 points and seven rebounds.
Nate Frye was the only Privateers player in double figures with 20 points, while Thibodeaux added a game-high 12 rebounds to go along with eight points.
The Islanders and Bearkats split the two regular season games, as Sam Houston won 67-59 in Huntsville on February 7, while losing 69-59 in Corpus Christi on February 28.
POSTGAME QUOTES
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Head Coach Willis Wilson
Opening statement…
“I’m just really glad we don’t have to play them again. Three games and it seemed like three battle royals. I could not be more impressed with UNO’s level of intensity and just commitment and focus. That been said, I was really proud of our guys fighting back. It was a period there in the second half where we really just weren’t ourselves. We really got out of sorts a little bit. The guys were just able to refocus on the things that we do and really dialed in on just trying to execute on those things and doing them well and it really paid off for us from that point forward.”
On the play of Bryce Douvier…
“Bryce really didn’t come alive until midway through that second half. His mouth wasn’t moving, his feet really weren’t moving the way he’s capable of going. I just issued him a challenge on the bench we need you to play, if you’re going to have to really turn it on.”
On Sam Houston State…
“I think they’re the best defensive team in the league in terms of field goal percentage. They don’t give a quarter, they don’t take a quarter. They’ve done a really great job all year long of making teams have to earn it and that’s been reflective of their defensive field goal percentages.”
Senior Guard John Jordan
On New Orleans…
“They’re a tough team. They’re well coached. They have good size, and they can matchup with us well, and have good perimeters and a good inside presence. They play well and they shoot the ball well.”
On the road ahead…
“We got good teams ahead of us and we just have to stay level-headed and keep competing. We just have to make it a one game season every day.”
New Orleans
Head Coach Mark Slessinger
Opening statement…
“It was an incredible game. Look at the three games we’ve played with them all year. It came down to 2-point game at their place, an overtime game at our place and then a 3-point game tonight. My hat goes off to Corpus and their staff. I wish them nothing but the best of luck going forward. More than anything I’m very proud of our student-athletes. I’m proud of how they conduct themselves and how hard they played and the level that they compete. I’m proud that the University of New Orleans is moving forward and becoming a champion again like our rich history is in the past.”
On New Orleans’ offense…
“I thought we attacked hard and I thought we attacked the basket. We executed as far as going in to draw contact and sometimes the shots are going to fall, but I thought we go some good looks. There was a stretch where we took a couple quick ones. We got several offensive rebounds and took a couple quick ones. If we make those, then we’re out rolling.”
Sophomore Guard Trevin Broyles
On physicality of game…
“I felt like we attacked the basket really well. We got a good look at the shot that we wanted, it was just physical out there and we couldn’t finish.”
Sophomore Guard Nate Frye
On physicality of game…
“I liked the way we attacked as a whole. We attacked hard and fast and that’s what we need to keep doing. That’s what gives us success and that’s what makes up our team.”