SAN ANTONIO (Interstat) — Sheldon Williams scored 22 points as Texas A&M-Corpus Christi built a large early lead and withstood a second-half surge to defeat Incarnate Word 79-71 in a Southland Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at McDermott Convocation Center.

The Islanders led 37-22 at halftime after holding the Cardinals to 22 first-half points. Incarnate Word’s Tahj Staveskie scored 25 points after halftime, fueling a 49-point second half that cut the deficit to single digits, but the comeback fell short. Nicholas Shogbonyo added 20 points for the Islanders, who improved to 11-9. Staveskie finished with 25 points for the Cardinals, who fell to 9-11.