In a tough night for Texas A&M, the Aggies found themselves outmatched by Houston in the NCAA Tournament's second round. Falling short for the third consecutive season before the Sweet 16, A&M couldn’t find their rhythm against the Cougars, ending with an 88-57 loss at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.
From the get-go, the Aggies struggled to handle Houston's dominance on the boards and in the paint. The Cougars asserted themselves with a commanding 32-20 advantage in points in the paint and out-rebounded A&M 46-29.
This relentless pressure led to a significant edge in second-chance points, 18-8, as Houston snagged 19 offensive rebounds. A&M, meanwhile, was held to a season-low 57 points, shooting a mere 25% from beyond the arc and 34.6% overall.
Josh Holloway was the lone bright spot for the Aggies, scoring 12 points.
Houston’s offensive efficiency was evident as they shot 44.1% from the field. Emanuel Sharp led the charge with 18 points, while Milos Uzan added 15 and Chris Cenac Jr. chipped in 17. Their balanced scoring attack kept A&M on their heels throughout the game.
A pivotal moment came near the end of the first half, when Houston unleashed an 18-0 run, pushing their lead to 20 points. The Aggies went cold, enduring a 6:34 scoreless stretch and missing 12 consecutive shots. By halftime, they were trailing 46-28, having shot just 31.3% from three-point range and 34.5% overall.
Despite their efforts, Texas A&M couldn’t close the gap in the second half, never getting closer than an 18-point deficit. Houston came out strong after the break with an 8-0 run and closed the game with another 8-0 spurt, marking their largest lead of the night. It was a tough end to the season for the Aggies, while Houston moves forward, showcasing why they're a force to be reckoned with in this tournament.