COMMERCE, Texas (Interstat) — Texas A&M-Corpus Christi defeated Texas A&M-Commerce 61-50 in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Monday night at Texas A&M-Commerce Field House. The Islanders led 33-29 at halftime and held the Lions to just 21 second-half points to secure the conference victory. The game drew an attendance of 784. With the win, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi improves to 9-8 overall. Texas A&M-Commerce falls to 7-11. The total score fell well below the pregame over/under line of 139.5.

COMMERCE, Texas (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined more by grit than grace, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi grinded out a 61-50 victory over Texas A&M-Commerce in a Southland Conference men’s basketball game Monday night at Texas A&M-Commerce Field House. The Islanders (9-8, 3-2 Southland) never trailed but could never fully shake the Lions (7-11, 2-3), relying on a methodical performance and key plays down the stretch to secure the road win before an announced crowd of 784. The most important part of the game was a decisive 9-0 run by the Islanders late in the second half that finally created sustainable separation. Leading just 42-40 with under six minutes to play, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi clamped down. Mason Gibson ignited the spurt with a critical 3-pointer off an assist from Franck Yetna. Following a Lions turnover, Sheldon Williams finished inside with a layup from Leo Torbor. Nicholas Shogbonyo then capped the run with a stepback jumper, pushing the Islanders’ advantage to 51-40 with 4:30 remaining. The Lions, who struggled offensively all night, could not mount a response, scoring only four points over the final five minutes. Shogbonyo, a guard from Arlington, Texas, led all scorers with 16 points for the Islanders, adding two steals in 30 minutes. His backcourt mate, Mason Gibson of Allen, Texas, contributed 10 points and two assists. The Islanders’ frontcourt provided balance, with Sheldon Williams of Atmore, Alabama, scoring nine points and grabbing key rebounds, while Yetna, from Paris, France, and Leo Torbor of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, each added eight points. Texas A&M-Commerce was led by Ronnie Harrison of Forney, Texas, who finished with 12 points. Gianni Hunt also scored 11 points and was a disruptive force defensively with three steals and a block. Noah Pagotto of Wollongong, Australia, added 11 points, seven rebounds and a block for the Lions. The game was a stark contrast in halves for both teams. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi took a 33-29 lead into the break despite a sloppy opening period that featured 15 combined turnovers. The second half devolved into a rock fight, with both teams combining for just 49 points. The Islanders’ 28-point second-half output was enough, as they held Commerce to a meager 21 points after intermission, consistently contesting shots and controlling the defensive glass. The victory moved Texas A&M-Corpus Christi above .500 in conference play and provided a bounce-back after a narrow one-point loss at Northwestern State this past Saturday. The Islanders will host Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday. Texas A&M-Commerce, which had won two of its last three, sees its record dip below .500 in the Southland. The Lions will look to regroup on the road at Houston Christian on Saturday. The game’s final score fell well under the pregame over/under line of 139.5, underscoring the defensive nature of the contest. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi covered the spread as a 4.5-point favorite, an outcome in line with national statistical projections that gave the Islanders a 72.9 percent probability to win.

COMMERCE, Texas (Interstat) — A pair of Southland Conference rivals seeking momentum meet Monday when the Texas A&M-Commerce Lions host the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders in a men’s Division I basketball matchup. The Islanders (8-8, 2-1 Southland) enter the 7 p.m. contest at the Texas A&M-Commerce Field House looking to rebound from a narrow 79-78 road loss at Northwestern State on Saturday. Corpus Christi had won its previous two conference games. The Lions (7-10, 1-2) snapped a four-game skid with a 77-69 home victory over Texas-Rio Grande Valley on Saturday. Commerce had lost its first two Southland games by an average of 16 points. A key matchup will feature two versatile guards. For Corpus Christi, Leo Torbor is a consistent contributor, coming off a nine-point, three-block performance at Northwestern State. Over his last five games, he is averaging 7.2 points and 2.6 assists. Commerce’s Tay Mosher is coming off a season-high 35 minutes in the win over UTRGV, scoring 10 points. His playing time and production have fluctuated, but he provides backcourt depth for the Lions. The Islanders have shown a potent offense at times, scoring 81 points in a win at Houston Christian last week and topping 80 points in three of their eight victories. However, consistency has been an issue, as seen in Saturday’s last-second defeat. Commerce’s defense, which allowed 83 points or more in three consecutive losses before Saturday, will be tested. The Lions’ offense runs through guard Ronnie Harrison (18 points vs. UTRGV) and Gianni Hunt, who posted a 13-point, 10-assist double-double in the last outing. This marks the first meeting between the programs this season. With both teams hovering around .500 in league play early in the conference schedule, Monday’s result could prove pivotal for positioning ahead of the Southland tournament in March.