Bucky McMillan and Texas A&M Basketball pulled off a gritty road victory against the Oklahoma Sooners, edging them out 75-71. This win completes a season sweep of the Sooners for the Aggies, who previously bested them at Reed Arena. The victory propels the Aggies to a 19-8 overall record and 9-5 in SEC play, while the Sooners drop to 13-14 overall and 3-11 in the conference.
This was a crucial win for the Aggies, potentially boosting their position in the NET rankings, especially given the unpredictable nature of college basketball this season. Whether or not it stands as a quad 1 win by selection Sunday, it was essential for the Aggies, with only four games left, three of which are against higher-ranked NET teams.
Texas A&M's success tonight was largely due to their shooting prowess and ball control. Despite forcing only eight turnovers, they committed just five themselves.
The game remained tight because Oklahoma capitalized on free throws, going 20-24 from the line, while the Aggies struggled, hitting only 11-20. Fortunately for Texas A&M, Oklahoma's inability to score from inside the arc helped seal the deal.
It's unusual for a team to shoot better from beyond the arc than inside, but Oklahoma did just that, going 11-30 from three-point range compared to 9-31 from two. The Aggies' shooting was streaky, but their 44% field goal percentage and 40% from three were enough to secure the win.
Defensively, the Aggies were outstanding, holding Oklahoma's top scorers, Nijel Pack and Xzayvier Brown, to a combined 16 points, well below their average of 32. While Texas A&M lost the rebounding battle 44-39, they showed improvement from their previous encounter with the Sooners, particularly in clutch moments to prevent late-game comebacks.
Rashaun Agee and Rylan Griffen shone for the Aggies, with Agee posting 18 points and 7 rebounds, and Griffen adding 14 points and 5 rebounds. When these two are on, the Aggies are tough to beat.
Though no other player dominated the stat sheet, the team effort was evident. Ten Aggies scored, with nine contributing at least four points.
Marcus Hill, Zach Clemence, and Pop Isaacs played pivotal roles. Clemence filled the stat line with 9 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Hill chipped in with 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists. Isaacs, in just 15 minutes, was efficient with 6 points and 2 rebounds.
Looking ahead, the Aggies face a formidable challenge as they travel to Fayetteville to take on the red-hot Arkansas Razorbacks on Wednesday. This matchup presents an excellent opportunity for Texas A&M to solidify their NCAA tournament prospects. Stay tuned for a comprehensive preview of this exciting clash.