Texas State men’s basketball (3-3) is set to face Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (1-5) for the second time this season Dec. 15 at Strahan Arena in San Marcos.
Entering the matchup, Texas State is hoping to overcome a two-game losing streak. Most recently the Bobcats fell in regulation to Our Lady of the Lake 61-58 Dec. 12 despite leading for the vast majority of the game.
TAMU-CC had its plate full in its last game against No. 17 Texas Tech, losing 77-57. The Islanders are looking to snap their five-game losing streak against Texas State.
This will be the 18th meeting in Texas State-TAMU-CC history, where the Islanders have a 10-7 advantage over the Bobcats. In the last game, on Nov. 28 of this season, Texas State won 75-63 and has also won the last three games against the Islanders.
The Bobcats are averaging 67.8 points per game on 43.1% shooting from the field, along with 37.8 rebounds (2.3 rebound-margin) and 12.8 assists per game. Texas State averages 12.4 turnovers per game and forces opponents an average of 15.5 turnovers. The Bobcats also average 7.5 steals and four blocks per game.
Having a great season thus far for the Maroon and Gold is junior point guard Mason Harrell, averaging 33.5 minutes along with a team-high 14.2 points per game. The Oklahoma-native is shooting the ball 44.4% (42.9% three-pointers) from the field while also dishing out three assists a game.
Emerging as a reliable scoring option is junior forward Alonzo Sule who averages 9.2 points (48.8% field goals, 88.2% free throws) and 3.8 rebounds per game in only 19.5 minutes of action.
Following closely behind Harrell and Sule is senior guard Shelby Adams (8.2 points per game, 50% field goals) and junior guard Caleb Asberry (7.5 points per game, 38.9% three-pointers).
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi hits 38% of its field goals for a total of 60.2 points, 35.2 rebounds and 12.2 assists per game. On the defensive end, the Islanders are averaging 7.2 steals and 3.8 blocks per game. They also record 18.5 turnovers a game while only forcing an opponent average of 13.5 turnovers.
Leading the Islanders this season are senior forward Perry Francois and junior guard Rasheed Browne. Francois has contributed a team-high 9.5 points (56.5% field goals) per game along with 4.5 rebounds and a total of eight blocks on the season. Browne averages nine points (44.1% field goals, 41.7% three-pointers), five rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.
Looking from a personnel perspective, the game is set to be a fairly even matchup. Something to look for in the Islanders’ starting lineup is whether they will match the size of Texas State’s bigs Sule (6’7″) and senior forward Isiah Small (6’8″) or stick with their usual smaller lineup. In its Nov. 28 game against Texas State, Francois (6’8″) was the tallest starter for TAMU-CC, followed by junior guard/forward Jalen White (6’5″).
The game starts at 7 p.m. and will be streamable on ESPN+.