No. 1-seed Alabama 96, No. 16-seed Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 75
After picking up its first-ever NCAA Tournament win on Tuesday night over Southeast Missouri State, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi’s journey came to an end with a 96-75 loss to No. 1-seed Alabama on Thursday afternoon. Still, the Southland Conference champions can look back with pride on another successful campaign despite the program only being in its 24th year of existence.
Nick Pringle led the Crimson Tide in both scoring and rebounding, posting 19 points and 15 boards. Trevian Tennyson scored 20 for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, while Owen Dease, Isaac Mushila, and Ross Williams finished in double figures as well.
Alabama came out of the gates looking the part of a No. 1 overall seed, jumping out to a 9-0 lead over the first three minutes of the game. The Islanders responded with a six-point run of their own to pull back within three of the Crimson Tide, but Alabama pulled away as the first half went along.
The Crimson Tide’s lead reached double digits for the first time with just under nine minutes to go in the half, and they’d cruise to a 54-34 lead at the break. Alabama made 10 of its first 15 3-pointers, and saw six different players drill triples before the half. The Tide dominated the glass as well, out-rebounding the Islanders 25-16. Isaac Mushila and Owen Dease each scored nine points for Corpus Christi in the opening 20 minutes.
Corpus Christi continued to fight, and pulled to within 13 points at 57-44 early in the second half when Trevian Tennyson’s second-straight 3-pointer forced an Alabama timeout. The Tide re-extended its lead before long, but Steve Lutz’s Islanders never stopped battling. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi outscored Alabama through most of the second half, frustrating the Crimson Tide with high-pressure defense that kept the deficit at 20 or below.
With four minutes left, a floater by Trevian Tennyson pulled the Islanders back within 16 at 83-67. That was as close as Corpus Christi would get, as Alabama extended its lead with mostly its bench players in the final minutes.
The final tally was 96-75, but the Islanders had to feel good about their efforts in the second half.
The loss ends Texas A&M-Corpus Christi’s season, while Alabama moves on to take on No. 8-seed Maryland on Saturday.