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SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The UIW men's basketball team returns home for the final three games at McDermott Convocation Center this season, beginning with a mid-week contest with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 7:30 p.m.
 
OPENING TIP
 
Wednesday marks the first of two meetings with the Islanders this season, as UIW closes the regular season in Corpus Christi on March 5. UIW leads the all-time series, 3-2. The two teams have split the season series in each of the last two seasons, with the Cardinals successfully defending their home court each time.
 
SCOUTING THE ISLANDERS
 
2016-17 Record: 14-9 (7-5 SLC)
Last Game: W 73-66 at McNeese (2/11)
Head Coach: Willis Wilson (6th season)
Key Players:
#25 Rashawn Thomas – 20.5 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 52 asts, 42 blks, 35 stls, 52.7 FG%
#4 Ehab Amin – 17.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 66 asts, 77 stls, 8 blks
#3 Joseph Kilgore – 11.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 61 asts, 11 blks, 23 stls, 81.3 FT%
Summary: Ever since a 69-66 overtime win at Lamar on Jan. 25, TAMUCC has won five straight; the most recent victory was at McNeese, 73-66, on Saturday. During the five-game winning streak, Rashawn Thomas has led the Islander offense in every contest, including 28 against the Cowboys.
 
On the season, TAMUCC has two players in the Top 5 in conference scoring, with Thomas T-2nd with 20.5 points per game and Ehab Amin 4th with 17.5. Thomas leads the conference with 8.9 rebounds per contest, which puts him just outside the Top 50 nationally. Thomas is also in the Top 5 in the SLC with a 54.5 field-goal percentage. His 1.9 blocked shots per game rank him 4th in the SLC, good for T-47 nationally. Amin leads the conference - and is 2nd nationally - with 3.3 steals per contest. As a team, the Islanders are 5th with a +1.6 scoring margin and 8th with a -1.2 rebounding margin.
 
THE CARDINAL FILE
 
2016-17 Record: 10-14 (5-8 SLC)
Last Game: L 72-63 at Sam Houston (2/11)
Head Coach: Ken Burmeister (11th season)
Key Players:
#1 Jalin Hart – 15.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 116 asts, 37 stls, 7 blks, 53.3 FG%
#3 Simi Socks – 15.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 30 asts, 13 blks, 22 stls, 83.6 FT%
#41 Shawn Johnson – 14.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 36 asts, 28 blks, 30 stls, 43.3 3PT%
Summary: UIW is on a four-game slide following a 72-63 loss at Sam Houston on Saturday. The Cardinals were led once again by Jalin Hart, with a game-high 20 points. Along with his career-high 34 points at Stephen F. Austin two days earlier, the Houston native averaged 29.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game on the week.
 
Hart has taken over the team lead in points and his 15.9 points per game rank him 5th in the Southland Conference. Simi Socks follows in 6th with 15.8 points per contest, while Shawn Johnson is T-10th with 14.6. Hart is 4th in the SLC with a 53.3 field-goal percentage, while Johnson is 4th in 3-point field goals made per game (2.4) and Socks is 3rd in free throw percentage (83.6). Hart's 4.9 assists per game rank him 3rd in the conference and he is T-1st with a +1.9 assist/turnover ratio. Devin Wyatt remains 2nd with 2.2 blocked shots per game, 32nd nationally. On the season, UIW is 3rd in scoring offense (77.3), 12th in scoring defense (80.1), 2nd in 3-point field-goal percentage (38.3), 9th in rebounding offense (34.5), and 11th in rebounding defense (38.3).
 
UP NEXT
 
UIW hosts Sam Houston on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 3 p.m. on Military Appreciation Day.
 
STAY TUNED
 
The Cardinals conclude the home slate against Nicholls on Thursday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. Prior to the game, seniors Jerred Kite and Phillip Johnson will be recognized.
 
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