New Orleans Privateers vs Texas A&M-Corpus Christian Islanders Picks and Predictions for Monday March 9 2026
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The New Orleans Privateers and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders meet in the Southland Tournament - Quarterfinal on Monday, March 9, 2026 at Townsley Law Arena in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 PM ET, and the game will be televised on ESPN+. At the time of this writing, the odds were not released. Be sure to check out our free college basketball picks for more college basketball betting insight and analysis.
New Orleans Looks to Build on Its Opening Tournament Win
New Orleans enters this quarterfinal matchup with a 15-17 overall record and a 12-10 mark in Southland play. The Privateers advanced to this round by defeating Houston Christian 73-60 in the first round. In their last five games, New Orleans has recently won over Houston Christian, Stephen F. Austin, and Lamar, while it has recently lost to Southeastern Louisiana and McNeese. That gives the Privateers some momentum coming into this matchup after snapping a two-game skid with a solid tournament performance.
The Privateers averaged 75.0 points per game this season while allowing 77.8 points per game. New Orleans shot 45% from the field and averaged 37.5 rebounds and 13.0 assists per contest. Defensively, the Privateers posted 3.8 blocks and 5.7 steals per game. The rebounding numbers stand out for this team, and that could be important in a postseason setting where extra possessions often become the difference.
A key tournament-specific angle for New Orleans is that the Privateers are coming off a game in which they controlled the glass and got enough scoring balance to move on. In the win over Houston Christian, Jakevion Buckley led the team with 14 points while MJ Thomas pulled down 12 rebounds. New Orleans also won the rebounding battle 43-27, which is a major positive heading into this quarterfinal. The short turnaround is worth watching, but if the Privateers can again create a rebounding edge and get efficient enough offence, they have a path to keep this game competitive.
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Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Opens Tournament Play off a Bye
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi comes into this quarterfinal with a 17-14 overall record and a 13-9 record in Southland play. The Islanders had the bye into this round, so this will be their first game of the Southland Tournament. In their last five games, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi has recently won over East Texas A&M, Northwestern State, and Southeastern Louisiana, while it has recently lost to McNeese and Stephen F. Austin. The Islanders closed the regular season by winning three of their last five games and will try to use the extra rest to their advantage here.
The Islanders averaged 72.9 points per game and allowed 68.2 points per game this season. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi shot 45% from the field and averaged 35.9 rebounds and 13.3 assists per game. On the defensive side, the Islanders recorded 3.0 blocks and 7.8 steals per contest. Their scoring margin and defensive numbers are stronger than New Orleans on paper, especially with the lower points allowed and the higher steals total.
The biggest tournament angle for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is the rest advantage after the bye along with the efficiency it showed in its most recent game. In the 84-71 win over East Texas A&M, Sheldon Williams scored 19 points and Nick Shogbonyo grabbed 8 rebounds. The Islanders shot 52% from the field, made 80% of their free throws, and finished with a 36-20 rebounding advantage. That combination of efficiency, rebounding, and rest makes Texas A&M-Corpus Christi an interesting team to back in its tournament opener.
New Orleans Privateers vs Texas A&M-Corpus Christian Islanders Pick
New Orleans Privateers vs Texas A&M-Corpus Christian Islanders Spread Pick
- Pick: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders moneyline
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi gets the edge here because the Islanders enter this quarterfinal with the bye, the fresher legs, and the better defensive profile. They allowed only 68.2 points per game this season compared to 77.8 points allowed by New Orleans, and they also showed strong efficiency in their last outing against East Texas A&M. New Orleans just played on Sunday and did some good things against Houston Christian, but the extra rest and stronger season-long defensive numbers point me toward the Islanders.
New Orleans Privateers vs Texas A&M-Corpus Christian Islanders Total Pick
- Pick: Under
I like the under in this matchup because Texas A&M-Corpus Christi has been the better defensive team all season, and tournament games often tighten up as possessions become more important. The Islanders allow just 68.2 points per game, and New Orleans scored only 73 points in its first-round win. I also think the Privateers could feel the short turnaround a bit after playing the day before, so this has the look of a game where the pace settles in and points are a little harder to come by.
Final Score Prediction: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders 72, New Orleans Privateers 66
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