Final Stats
Corpus Christi, Texas - Oliver Lafayette scored 27 points and Jahmar Thorpe scored 15 points and pulled down nine rebounds to lead the University of Houston to an 82-74 victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the second game of the season between the two schools.
Houston led by as many by 12 points in the first half, 19-7, with nearly 14 minutes left to play in the first half before Texas A&M-Corpus Christi charged back to tie the score 36-36 with 34 seconds left in the period.
The Cougars went into the halftime locker room up 38-36 when Lanny Smith hit Ramon Dyer for a reverse lay-up on the final play of the first half.
The Cougars appeared to be in control of the game when they opened up a 52-42 lead with 13:40 left to play. But, Ramon Dyer picked up his fourth foul with 13 minutes left and the Islanders took advantage.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi went on a 19-0 run to take a 61-52 lead on Taurean Mitchell's lay-up with 9:23 left to play.
But Houston came storming back with a 15-5 run of its own to take a 67-66 lead on Oliver Lafayette's two free throws.
The Cougars never trailed again as Houston closed out the game hitting six of its eight final free throws to pull away with an 82-74 victory.
The win improves Houston's record to 15-6 this season, and the Cougars return to Conference USA play this Saturday night playing host to SMU in Hofheinz Pavilion at 7:00 p.m.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is 15-8 this season in its last year as an independent. The Islanders join the Southland Conference next season.