Preview: Lamar Cardinals at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (Interstat) — Two teams jockeying for position in the tightly packed Southland Conference will meet Saturday when the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders host the Lamar Cardinals at American Bank Center. The Islanders (13-12 overall) enter the Valentine’s Day matchup with a slight edge in the standings over the Cardinals (12-13), with both seeking a winning record and crucial conference momentum heading into the final stretch of the regular season. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi looks to rebound from a tough 84-78 overtime road loss to New Orleans on Monday. In that game, Sheldon Williams scored 20 points, continuing his recent run of strong offensive performances. Over his last five contests, Williams has averaged 14.4 points, including a 22-point outing in a win at Incarnate Word on Jan. 24. Lamar arrives after a heartbreaking 70-68 home loss to Northwestern State on Monday, a game in which Andrew Holifield scored 17 points. The Cardinals have lost three of their last four, with the lone win a 73-54 victory over Southeastern Louisiana on Feb. 2. Holifield has been a key variable for Lamar, showing a high ceiling with games of 20 and 17 points this month, but his scoring output has fluctuated. The Islanders won the season’s first meeting, 57-49, in Beaumont on Dec. 6, 2025, in a defensive struggle. Lamar will aim for a higher offensive output to split the season series. The game will feature a contrast in recent results. While Lamar has struggled at home, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi has found more success on the road, winning two of its last three away games. However, protecting home court is paramount in conference play, and the Islanders are 8-4 at the American Bank Center this season. With both teams separated by just one game in the loss column, Saturday’s contest carries significant weight for Southland tournament seeding. A win would provide a key tiebreaker and valuable confidence before each team faces a quick turnaround with games on Monday. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi.