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HOUSTON -- Houston Christian University fell 81-65 to Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in Sharp Gymnasium on Monday night. The Islanders broke things open with a 24-9 run over the final seven minutes of the first half, dooming the Huskies to defeat in their first home game since mid-December.
 
The two teams traded baskets for the first six minutes of the ballgame, and a jumper in the paint by TAMUCC's Devon Kobi Pearson knotted things at eight early on. Trailing 15-10 midway through the first half, the Huskies put together an 8-2 burst to take the lead. Kylin Green sandwiched a conventional three-point play and a connection from long range around a bucket from Demarco Bethea, pushing the Huskies ahead 18-17 with 7:10 to go.
 
HCU still led 25-24 with 4:44 showing after a three from D'Aundre Samuels and a layup by Trent Johnson. The Islanders then held the hosts to just three points over that final stretch. A dunk by Leo Torbor capped off an 11-0 burst to giver A&M-Corpus Christi it's first double-digit lead at 35-25, and a three-pointer by D'Avian Houston with 49 ticks to go sent TAMUCC into the intermission up 41-27.
 
Mason Gibson hit a three two minutes into the second half to put the Islanders up 15, but moments later, the Huskies clawed to within nine after a triple from Trent Johnson pulled HCU to within nine, 48-39 at the 16:27 mark. That would be as close as the Huskies would get the rest of the way however, as Gibson's jumper four minutes later pushed the lead back to 15.
 
The Islanders would never relinquish the double-digit lead. Another triple by Samuels and a layup by Green pulled the Huskies deficit to 11 with 6:44 to play, but four points by Frahnk Yetna and a three-pointer from Sheldon Williams extended the margin to 20 with 3:34 left on the clock.
 
HCU hit at a 42% clip on the evening, but hit just 22% from the arc. TAMUCC shot 49% from the floor on the evening, and made good on a 45-14 edge off the bench and a 28-7 disparity on points off turnovers.
 
The Huskies were led by Kylin Green, who had 15 points, four boards and four assists. Demarco Bethea tied his career high for the third time this season with 14 points while adding four rebounds. Trent Johnson had nine points and D'Aundre Samuels added eight points and five caroms. Ryan Bartley and Mambourou Mara each had a career-best four assists for HCU, and Mara added three blocked shots.
 
TAMUCC (8-7 | 4-2 SLC) put three players in double-figures amongst a dozen scorers overall. Mason Gibson and Sheldon Williams led the way with 16 apiece, while DA Houston added 12. Williams had a game-high seven boards, while Franck Yetna had eight points, five boards, three assists and three steals.
 
Houston Christian University is now 5-10 overall and 1-5 in conference action. HCU will return to action this weekend when it goes on the road for a pair of games, starting with a Piney Woods matchup on Saturday against league-leading Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches. Tip-off at William R. Johnson Coliseum is set for 5 pm.
 
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