Texas A&M-Corpus Christi beats New Orleans 59-58 to advance

Mar 12, 2015, 10:57 pm

KATY, Texas -- John Jordan scored 22 points and had five steals and third-seeded Texas A&M-Corpus Christi rallied to beat New Orleans 59-58 on Thursday night to advance to face second-seeded Sam Houston State in a Southland Conference tournament semifinal Friday.

Rashawn Thomas scored 13 points and the Islanders (19-12) made only 1 of 14 shots from long distance but hit 22 of 34 free throws.

Nate Frye and Kevin Brown hit back-to-back 3-pointers and No. 7 seed New Orleans led 16-7 early, but the Islanders used a 12-2 run capped by Thomas' layup to pull ahead 19-18. The lead flip-flopped until Tevin Broyles made two free throws with 12 seconds left and New Orleans led 34-33 at halftime.

The Privateers pulled ahead 40-34 on a jumper by Travin Thibodeaux early in the second half, but Brandon Pye's jumper tied it at 42 and sparked an 11-3 run that put the Islanders up 51-45 with 6:04 left. Bryce Douvier hit two free throws for a 59-56 Islanders lead with 1:26 to go. Frye pulled the Privateers within a point, 59-58, with two free throws with 1:06 to go, but New Orleans didn't get off another shot.

Frye led the Privateers (11-18) with 20 points and Thibodeaux grabbed 12 rebounds.