Dec. 18, 2001

Box Score

Brian Evans scored 22 points, including six straight points late in the game to lead Texas A&M Corpus Christi to a 80-75 win over USF.

Evans scored a driving layup and made four free-throws after LyRyan Russell gave the Dons their last lead of the game at 3:17 with two free-throws, turning a 73-72 lead into a 78-73 deficit. The turning point in the game was at the 2:04 mark when Darrell Tucker appeared to be fouled while driving to the basket, but instead was called for traveling. Evans was 8-11 from the floor and 6-6 from the free-throw line.

USF, who outshot the hosts 57% to 42%, came back from a 46-30 halftime deficit, finally taking the lead 69-68 with 4:09 left. The Dons, 2-7 on the year were outscored 23-15 at the free-throw line by the 2-6 Islanders.

The Dons were paced in scoring by a career high 18 points by John Cox, and Darrell Tucker, who scored his 1,000th career point early in the second half added 17 points, 8 rebounds and a career best four blocks before fouling out late in the contest.

The Dons trailed 46-30 at the half despite shooting the Islanders 50% to 43%. The main problem for USF were turnovers as the Dons, who came into the contest averaging just 13 turnovers per contest, gave up the ball 16 times before intermission.

USF led early 10-6, but the home team ran off a 25-10 run to lead 31-20. The Dons were forced to juggle their lineup as Darrell Tucker, LyRyan Russell and Tayo Akinsete each received two early fouls. USF was outscored 12-5 at the foul line and outrebounded 20-13 in the first half.

Texas A&M continued a great streak of home victories where they are now 21-7 over the past three seasons.

USF started a different lineup with Tayo Akinsete making his third start of the year in place of Hondre Brewer and freshman Michael Chambers making his first career start at the two guard usually occupied by Shamell Stallworth.

The Dons will play the Islanders again this season, hosting them at War Memorial Gymnasium on January 5th.

USF will continue the two game road trip with a game at Southern University in Baton Rouge Thursday before returning home to face Michigan on December 29th in the Pete Newell Challenge at the Oakland Coliseum Arena. There is no local television planned for that game that precedes the Stanford-Michigan State contest.