SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA SEEKS ROAD UPSET AGAINST TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (Interstat) — The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders look to continue their climb above .500 when they host the struggling Southeastern Louisiana Lions in a Southland Conference men’s basketball matchup Saturday at American Bank Center.

The Islanders (9-8, 3-2 Southland) enter on a positive note after a 61-50 road victory at Texas A&M-Commerce on Monday. Nicholas Shogbonyo led the way with 16 points, continuing a stretch of consistent scoring. Over his last six games, Shogbonyo is averaging 9.8 points, including a 16-point performance in the win over Commerce.

Conversely, the Lions (5-12, 1-4) are looking to halt a two-game skid following a narrow 79-76 home loss to New Orleans on Monday. Despite the defeat, guard Isaiah Gaines turned in a strong performance with 18 points in 35 minutes. Gaines has been a bright spot, averaging 10.2 points per game over his last six contests and scoring 15 points with five rebounds and four blocks in a Dec. 30 game at Incarnate Word.

The Islanders have found success at home this season, including a dominant 93-36 win over Southwestern Adventist on Dec. 20 and an 83-69 conference victory over New Orleans on Dec. 31. Their defense will be tested by Gaines, who is coming off his second-highest scoring output of the season.

Southeastern Louisiana’s recent woes have been marked by close losses, including the three-point defeat to New Orleans and a one-point loss to Texas A&M-Commerce in mid-December. The Lions will need to improve their late-game execution to challenge an Islander squad that has won three of its last four conference games.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi holds the superior overall and conference record, but the Lions have shown they can keep games competitive. The matchup between Shogbonyo’s offensive rhythm and Gaines’ recent scoring surge could be pivotal in a game that will impact the middle of the Southland standings.

Tip-off is set for Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi.