Ali lifts Texas A&M-CC over Sam Houston St., 79-76

Mar 12, 2016, 01:01 am

KATY, Texas -- Hameed Ali scored 18 points, including five in the final seven seconds, to help second-seeded Texas A&M-Corpus Christi rally from a three-point deficit with 13 seconds left and beat No. 3 seed Sam Houston State 79-76 in the semifinals of the Southland Conference Tournament on Friday night.

The Islanders (25-6) face top-seeded Stephen F. Austin in the championship Saturday.

Sam Houston State (18-15) led 40-28 at the break and had a 13-point lead with 16 minutes to go, but the Islanders scored 12 straight points over the next 4:30 and took a 56-55 lead on a layup by Joe Kilgore with 9:11 to play.

There were seven lead changes and three ties from there.

Jovante' Spivey's jumper with 29 seconds remaining gave Sam Houston State a 76-74 lead, and after Ehab Amin's layup attempt on the other end was blocked, the Islanders were forced to foul.

Spivey missed both free throws and Ali hit a 3 with seven seconds left, giving Texas A&M-Corpus Christi a 77-76 advantage.

Kilgore had a steal and Ali made two foul shots to seal it.