Northwestern State Edges Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 79-78
Saturday, January 10, 2026, 4:30 PM ET · Prather Coliseum
Northwestern State Demons 79, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders 78, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders vs Northwestern State Demons?
Northwestern State Demons beat Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders 79-78 at Prather Coliseum on January 10, 2026.
Who was favored in Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders vs Northwestern State Demons?
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -205 (about 67% implied). The underdog won.
In a thrilling encounter at Prather Coliseum, the Northwestern State Demons narrowly defeated the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders 79-78. This game was particularly noteworthy as it showcased the Demons' ability to secure a close victory, improving their home record to 3-3 this season. The win comes after a recent streak of mixed results for Northwestern State, who had a 5-11 overall record prior to this matchup.
Northwestern State entered this game with a record of 3-7 over their last ten games, having lost their previous match against the Nicholls Colonels on January 6, 2026. In that game, they scored 72 points but allowed 74, highlighting their struggles on defense. Their average scoring over the last ten games stood at 72.4 points, while they allowed an average of 74.6 points per game. The Demons had shown some offensive promise, particularly in their recent home win against the LSU New Orleans Privateers, where they scored 74 points.
On the other side, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders boasted a stronger recent form, arriving at Prather Coliseum with a record of 7-3 in their last ten games and a current winning streak of three games. Their last victory was a decisive 81-65 win against the Houston Christian Huskies on January 6, 2026. The Islanders averaged 80.5 points scored and allowed just 64.1 points during this stretch, indicating a solid offensive and defensive performance. Their away record of 3-2 also reflects their capability to compete on the road.
In terms of head-to-head meetings, this matchup marked the third encounter between the two teams, with the record now standing at 1-1. The previous games included a Northwestern State victory on March 10, 2025, where they won 66-63 at home, and an earlier loss on January 14, 2025, when they fell 64-73 on the road.
Injury reports were not detailed in the provided facts, but both teams were expected to field their regular lineups for this crucial game. The market had set the odds with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi favored by 5.5 points according to DraftKings, with a total over/under of 138.5 points. This indicated that the bookmakers anticipated a competitive game, reflecting the close nature of the teams' performances leading up to this matchup.
The conditions at Prather Coliseum were typical for a mid-January evening, providing a suitable environment for college basketball. Fans were treated to a high-energy atmosphere, which likely contributed to the close scoreline.
As the game unfolded, it was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading leads. Key moments included significant scoring plays in the second half, such as Micah Thomas's crucial 26-foot three-point jumper that put the Demons ahead 79-78 late in the game. The Islanders had opportunities to reclaim the lead but fell just short, showcasing the tight contest that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Ultimately, Northwestern State's ability to execute under pressure and their home advantage proved decisive in this nail-biting finish. The victory not only boosts their confidence but also serves as a critical step in their quest for a better season record.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | AMCC -5.5 | 138.5 o -110 / u -110 | Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders -205 · Northwestern State Demons +170 |
Leaders
- PointsMicah Thomas20Northwestern State Demons
- AssistsWillie Williams3Northwestern State Demons
- ReboundsWillie Williams8Northwestern State Demons
- PointsMason Gibson14Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders
- AssistsJaden Haire2Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders
- ReboundsSheldon Williams5Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders
Recent form
Northwestern State Demons
Last 10: 3-7Streak L172.4 scored · 74.6 allowed per game2-3 at home
- L72-74at Nicholls ColonelsJan 6
- W74-68vs LSU New Orleans PrivateersJan 3
- L64-74vs Stephen F. Austin LumberjacksDec 31
- L61-76vs Lamar CardinalsDec 30
- W108-55vs Southern New Orleans KnightsDec 20
- L70-79at California Golden BearsDec 13
- W76-68at SE Louisiana LionsDec 7
- L54-92at McNeese CowboysDec 6
- L73-75vs Southern JaguarsNov 29
- L72-85at Grand Canyon LopesNov 22
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders
Last 10: 7-3Streak W380.5 scored · 64.1 allowed per game3-2 away
- W81-65at Houston Christian HuskiesJan 6
- W63-59at UT Rio Grande Valley VaquerosJan 3
- W83-69vs LSU New Orleans PrivateersDec 31
- L71-76vs Nicholls ColonelsDec 30
- W93-36vs Southwestern Adventist KnightsDec 21
- L60-69at Stephen F. Austin LumberjacksDec 18
- W108-55vs Dallas Christian CrusadersDec 13
- W57-49at Lamar CardinalsDec 7
- L67-88at Xavier MusketeersNov 28
- W122-75vs Howard Payne Yellow JacketsNov 22
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen F. Austin | 28-6 | - | 20-2 |
| McNeese | 28-6 | 1 | 19-3 |
| UT Rio Grande Valley | 19-14 | 6 | 14-8 |
| Texas A&M-Corpus Christi | 18-15 | 7 | 13-9 |
| LSU New Orleans | 15-18 | 8 | 12-10 |
| Nicholls | 14-19 | 8 | 12-10 |
| Houston Christian | 12-20 | 12 | 8-14 |
| Northwestern State | 10-22 | 12 | 8-14 |
| Incarnate Word | 12-19 | 13 | 7-15 |
| Lamar | 12-19 | 13 | 7-15 |
| East Texas A&M | 11-21 | 14 | 6-16 |
| SE Louisiana | 9-22 | 14 | 6-16 |
Box score
| Stat | Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders | Northwestern State Demons |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 27-53 | 27-48 |
| Field goal % | 51 | 56 |
| Three-pointers | 6-18 | 6-12 |
| Three-point % | 33 | 50 |
| Free throws | 18-28 | 19-24 |
| Free throw % | 64 | 79 |
| Rebounds | 26 | 30 |
| Offensive rebounds | 8 | 7 |
| Defensive rebounds | 18 | 23 |
| Assists | 10 | 11 |
| Steals | 8 | 5 |
| Blocks | 5 | 1 |
| Turnovers | 9 | 16 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 25 | 12 |
| Fast-break points | 15 | 10 |
| Points in the paint | 34 | 36 |
| Fouls | 23 | 20 |
| Largest lead | 17 | 5 |
| Lead changes | 5 | 5 |
| Time in front | 91 | 8 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half45-41Leo Torbor makes 13-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half47-41Mason Gibson makes layup
- 2nd Half48-41Mason Gibson makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half48-43Izzy Miles makes driving layup
- 2nd Half50-43Nick Shogbonyo makes 16-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half50-45Micah Thomas makes 9-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half51-45Nick Shogbonyo makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half52-45Nick Shogbonyo makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half54-45Mason Gibson makes 7-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half54-47J.C. Riley Jr. makes 3-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half57-47Mason Gibson makes 25-foot three point jumper (Daniel Michelini-Jackson assists)
- 2nd Half59-47Mason Gibson makes layup (D'Avian Houston assists)
- 2nd Half61-47Jaden Haire makes layup
- 2nd Half61-48Willie Williams makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half62-48Sheldon Williams makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half62-51Omar Adegbola makes 25-foot three point jumper (Izzy Miles assists)
- 2nd Half62-53Kordrick Turner makes 4-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half63-53Sheldon Williams makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-54Kordrick Turner makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half63-55Kordrick Turner makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-57CJ Larry makes layup (Omar Adegbola assists)
- 2nd Half63-58CJ Larry makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half64-58Leo Torbor makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half64-61Izzy Miles makes 25-foot three point jumper (Kordrick Turner assists)
- 2nd Half64-63Kordrick Turner makes layup
- 2nd Half65-63Daniel Michelini-Jackson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half66-63Daniel Michelini-Jackson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half66-65Willie Williams makes layup
- 2nd Half69-65Franck Yetna makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half69-68Omar Adegbola makes 24-foot three point jumper (Izzy Miles assists)
- 2nd Half69-69CJ Larry makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-70CJ Larry makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half69-72Willie Williams makes 2-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half69-74Micah Thomas makes 6-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half72-74D'Avian Houston makes 26-foot three point jumper (Sheldon Williams assists)
- 2nd Half75-74D'Avian Houston makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half75-76Kordrick Turner makes 4-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half77-76Sheldon Williams makes layup
- 2nd Half78-76Nick Shogbonyo makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half78-79Micah Thomas makes 26-foot three point jumper
Win probability
Above the line favours Northwestern State Demons, below favours Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders.
Venue
- Prather ColiseumNatchitoches, LA
- Attendance812
- OfficialsAndre Crawford, Ross Cullins, Trent Dews
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- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond