KATY, Texas (AP) 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.
