The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders, averaging 75.8 points per game over their last five contests, are set to host the Stephen F. Austin State Lumberjacks, who have been on a tear, winning their last five games and outscoring opponents by an average of 11.4 points in that stretch. This matchup pits two teams from the Southland Conference against each other, with the Islanders looking to bolster their tournament resume and the Lumberjacks seeking to maintain their momentum. Over their last five games, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi has allowed 73 points per game, while Stephen F. Austin has been more stingy, giving up just 63.8 points per contest.
The Lumberjacks, led by Stephen F. Austin, have been dominant, with a 23-3 overall record and a 16-1 mark in conference play, and they want to continue their winning ways against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Islanders, on the other hand, are 14-12 overall and 10-7 in the Southland Conference, and they must find a way to slow down the Lumberjacks' high-powered offense, which has averaged 75.2 points per game over its last five contests. The Islanders have shown flashes of brilliance on offense, scoring 83 points in a win over Nicholls and 76 points in a win over Lamar, but they have also struggled at times, scoring just 69 points in a loss to Incarnate Word. With the Lumberjacks averaging 74.4 points per game over their last three road contests, the Islanders must be at the top of their defensive game to have a chance.
Lumberjacks Dominant in Conference Play
Key Matchups
The matchup between these two teams will feature several intriguing individual battles, including the one between the Islanders' leading scorer, who has averaged 18.5 points per game over his last four contests, and the Lumberjacks' top defender, who has held opponents to just 38.5% shooting from the field over his last five games. The Lumberjacks also have a player who has been on a hot streak, scoring in double figures in each of his last seven games, including a 23-point outburst in a win over Lamar. The Islanders must find a way to slow down this player, who has averaged 15.6 points per game over his last five contests, if they hope to pull off the upset.
As the game approaches, the question on everyone's mind is whether the Islanders can find a way to slow down the Lumberjacks' offense, which has been nearly unstoppable over the last five games, scoring at least 66 points in each contest. The Islanders have shown flashes of brilliance on defense, holding opponents to under 70 points in two of their last five games, but they have also struggled at times, giving up 84 points in a loss to New Orleans. With the Lumberjacks averaging 75.2 points per game over their last five contests, the Islanders must be at the top of their defensive game to have a chance. The Lumberjacks, on the other hand, have been solid on defense, holding opponents to just 63.8 points per game over their last five contests, and they want to continue that trend against the Islanders.
CHD Scout Prediction
Stephen F. Austin
75
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
65
The CHD Scout prediction has the Lumberjacks winning by 9.7 points, with the Islanders given just a 20.5% chance of pulling off the upset. This prediction is based on the Lumberjacks' dominance over their last five games, during which they have outscored opponents by an average of 11.4 points per contest. The Islanders, on the other hand, have been more inconsistent, alternating between wins and losses over their last five games, and they must find a way to break out of that pattern if they hope to pull off the upset. With the Lumberjacks' high-powered offense and stingy defense, it's hard to see the Islanders keeping pace, especially given their recent struggles on defense.
The Islanders have shown flashes of brilliance on offense, scoring 83 points in a win over Nicholls and 76 points in a win over Lamar, but they have also struggled at times, scoring just 69 points in a loss to Incarnate Word. The Lumberjacks, on the other hand, have been more consistent, scoring at least 66 points in each of their last five games, including a 85-point outburst in a win over SE Louisiana. With the Islanders allowing 73 points per game over their last five contests, the Lumberjacks should be able to find plenty of scoring opportunities. The Islanders must find a way to slow down the Lumberjacks' offense, which has averaged 75.2 points per game over its last five contests, if they hope to pull off the upset.
Tournament Stakes
A win for the Islanders would be a huge boost to their tournament resume, as it would give them a quality win over a top-100 team and help to offset some of their earlier losses. On the other hand, a loss would be a significant setback, as it would drop them to 14-13 overall and 10-8 in the Southland Conference, and make it even more difficult for them to make a case for an at-large bid. For the Lumberjacks, a win would be another step towards securing a top seed in the conference tournament, and would also help to bolster their case for an at-large bid, should they fail to win the conference tournament. A loss, on the other hand, would be a significant upset, and would give the Islanders a much-needed boost to their tournament hopes. With the Islanders needing a win to stay in the hunt for a tournament bid, and the Lumberjacks looking to maintain their momentum, this game has real consequences for both teams.
The Lumberjacks have been dominant in conference play, with a 16-1 record, and they want to continue that trend against the Islanders. The Islanders, on the other hand, have been more inconsistent, with a 10-7 record in conference play, and they must find a way to break out of that pattern if they hope to pull off the upset. With the Lumberjacks averaging 75.2 points per game over their last five contests, and the Islanders allowing 73 points per game over their last five contests, this game has the potential to be a high-scoring affair. The Islanders must find a way to slow down the Lumberjacks' offense, which has been nearly unstoppable over the last five games, if they hope to pull off the upset. The Lumberjacks, on the other hand, want to continue their winning ways, and maintain their position at the top of the conference standings.