Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's Sheldon Williams stole the show at the McDermott Center, leading his team to a 79-71 victory over Incarnate Word. The Islanders' star forward recorded a double-double, scoring 22 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, to help his team improve to 11-9 on the season. Williams' impressive performance was complemented by Nick Shogbonyo's 20 points, as the duo propelled Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to a convincing road win.
Incarnate Word's Tahj Staveskie did his best to keep his team in the game, scoring 25 points and adding 5 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Islanders' balanced attack. The Cardinals trailed by 15 points at halftime, 37-22, and despite a strong second-half effort, they were unable to close the gap. Davion Bailey and Harrison Reede chipped in with 16 and 12 points, respectively, but Incarnate Word's offense was ultimately outpaced by the Islanders' high-powered attack.
The game unfolded with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi taking control from the opening tip. The Islanders built a 10-point lead midway through the first half and never looked back, taking a 37-22 advantage into the break. Incarnate Word made a push in the second half, cutting the deficit to 7 points with just over 5 minutes remaining, but the Islanders responded with a series of clutch baskets to seal the win.
CHD Scout Report Card
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Final
CHD Scout's pre-game prediction had Texas A&M-Corpus Christi winning by a slim 1.1-point margin, but the Islanders had other plans. They dominated the Cardinals from start to finish, ultimately winning by 8 points. The predicted score of 70-70 was also well off the mark, as both teams exceeded expectations on the offensive end.
The victory is a significant one for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, as it improves their resume with a Quadrant 4 win. While the Islanders' net ranking of 184 is still a work in progress, they are slowly building a case for tournament consideration. Incarnate Word, on the other hand, falls to 9-11 and sees their own tournament hopes take a hit. The loss is a Quadrant 4 defeat for the Cardinals, which won't help their cause as they try to climb the rankings.
As the season enters its final stretch, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi want to build on this momentum, while Incarnate Word will aim to regroup and refocus. For now, the Islanders can celebrate a hard-fought road win, thanks in large part to the outstanding performance of Sheldon Williams. With this victory, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi takes a small step forward in the tournament conversation, while Incarnate Word's chances take a slight hit. The Islanders' resume is still a work in progress, but with wins like this, they're slowly making a case for themselves as a potential tournament team.