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TAMU-CC Provost touts national exposure for school despite NCAA Tournament loss

Impact of NCAA tournament trip for Islanders
TAMUCC Provost touts national exposure for school despite NCAA Tournament loss
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CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — For only the second time in school history — and the first time since 2007 — the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Men's basketball team played in the NCAA Tournament Tuesday night.

The Islanders season came to an end though with a 76-67 loss to Texas Southern.

“We did not get the outcome that we wanted, but we celebrate our students everyday anyway," TAMU-CC Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Clarenda Phillips said. "And we are so proud of our students including our male student athletes. So it was a good day to be an Islander. They did make it into the tournament, and there’s a lot to be said for that.”

There's also a lot to be said about the exposure the school got on a large national stage.

Millions of people watch "March Madness" every year, and playing in this year's tournament's very first game likely meant a huge television audience.

“We are a hidden jewel down here in South Texas," Phillips said. "And we know we offer a great education — a great place for students to come live, learn. And so I think we are on the map. I think, if nothing else, we were in the tournament bracket. So I think people will find us more readily now.”

Dozens of Islander fans watched the game at two watch-parties hosted by Brewster Street Ice House Downtown and the Post bar and restaurant.

One of those fans, a 1994 TAMU-CC graduate, used a stock market term while agreeing with Phillips that the tournament appearance was a positive for the school.

“It’s huge — not only for the university, for sports, for academics — all of the above," Kelley Allen said. "Corpus Christi is an IPO (initial public offering) taking off, :53 and we’re very blessed to have Texas A&M Corpus Christi as part of our community.”