KATY, Texas (AP) - Kevin Palmer scored a career-high 35 points to help lead Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to a 79-72 victory over Texas-Arlington in the first round of the Southland Conference tournament Thursday night.

Palmer hit two free throws with 16 seconds left and had a breakaway slam with two seconds left to give the Islanders (18-14) the win.

Texas-Arlington's Anthony Vereen scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half, including nine in a 2 1/2-minute stretch to pull the Mavericks within three twice late in the game.

Marquez Haynes led Texas-Arlington (16-14) with 36 points, 27 in the second half. He scored 12 points in a 14-5 run that tied the game at 41-41 with 14:17 to play. Palmer answered, scoring 12 of the Islanders' 16 points in a 4 1/2-minute stretch for a 60-47 lead with 9:39 left.

The fourth-seed Islanders meet No. 1 seed Stephen F. Austin in Friday's semifinals.