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Texas A&M-CC beats SE Louisiana 73-65, wins Southland title
Published March 13, 2022
Terrion Murdix and Jalen Jackson each had 13 points and five assists, and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 15 years with a 73-65 victory over Southeastern Louisiana in the Southland Conference tournament championship on Saturday night.
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San Antonio native and first-year coach Steve Lutz, who spent the previous four seasons as an assistant at Purdue, gets the fourth-seeded Islanders (23-11) to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2007.
The Islanders took the lead for good with 16:10 to play, but the second-seeded Lions stayed within single digits until the final minute. Ryan Burkhardt got the Lions within three points twice, first with a 3-pointer and then with a pair of free throws a minute later to make it 61-58 with 4:07 remaining.
Texas A&M Corpus Christi's Myles Smith celebrates after the Southland Conference tournament NCAA college basketball game final against the Southeastern Louisiana Saturday, March 12, 2022, in Katy, Texas. Texas A&M Corpus Christi won 73-65. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
But the Islanders answered with Murdix's underhanded layup to spark a 10-2 run. The Lions added five free throws in the last nine seconds.
De’Lazarus Keys scored 12 points and San Antonio Brinson had 10 for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, which is 17-0 when holding opponents under 70 points. Isaac Mushila grabbed 12 rebounds to go with eight points.
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Keon Clergeot scored 13 of his 18 points in the second half for SE Louisiana (19-14). Burkhardt added 14 points. The pair combined for six of the Lions' 10 3-pointers while the rest were just 9-of-34 (26%) shooting from the field overall.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/texas-am-cc-beats-se-louisiana-73-65-wins-southland-title