Texas A&M kept rolling Thursday night, and the result was never really in doubt for long. In an early-season Power 4 matchup at home, the Aggies handled Oklahoma State 88-69 in front of the home crowd.
The night belonged to a few different Aggies, but freshman forward Josh Irving made the biggest early impression when the bench was suddenly asked to carry more weight. Cade Phillips sat out with an injury, and a couple of teammates were already dealing with foul trouble. Irving answered with 12 key points in 20 minutes, then finished with 14 points and four rebounds in 23 strong minutes.
“I've known Josh for a long time,” Oklahoma State head coach Steve Lutz said. “He's a great player and will be a great player for you guys.
He's long, athletic, and made a three. Coach Bucky has a good one with that freshman.”
PJ Haggerty kept his recent run going as well. The Kansas State transfer reached double figures for the third straight time, logging a season-high 31 minutes and finishing with 22 points, two rebounds, and two assists.
Texas A&M’s start from deep was uneven, but it didn’t stay that way for long. Jordan Pope opened the scoring with a three, and Jalen Shelley and Zach Clemence each hit from beyond the arc. Oklahoma State briefly pushed ahead with a 7-0 burst, taking a 12-9 lead after Anthony Felesi and Kashie Natt helped fuel the response.
That’s when Irving started to change the tone. After Mackenzie Mgbako picked up foul trouble and went to the bench, the Pasadena, California native gave A&M a lift with foul draws, a made free throw, and then a steal that turned into a big slam.
“Every game is a ladder for me,” Irving said. “Every game, I get more comfortable, and now my game is starting to shine.”
Irving’s free throws helped spark a 13-3 Aggie run at the 16-minute mark, with Clemence adding two at the line and Haggerty closing the stretch with six points. From there, Texas A&M kept answering whenever Oklahoma State tried to settle in.
The Cowboys stayed alive by getting to the line. They shot just 3 of 16 from three in the first half, but they were 12 of 16 at the stripe, with Felesi and Natt accounting for eight of those makes.
Still, A&M’s offense was sharp enough to keep control, as the Aggies hit 55 percent from the field and from three before halftime. Every one of their six first-half threes came from a different player: Haggerty, Pope, Clemence, Irving, Shelley, and Rylan Griffin.
“We had some players really step up and make some big shots,” McMillan said. “They shot 6-for-30 from three, and we shot 12-for-25.
If that's flipped, they probably win. Good players matter most, and we had some good players tonight.”
After the break, A&M came out with a 6-0 run, and Clemence buried back-to-back threes to stretch the lead to 56-39. Oklahoma State answered with a 7-0 run, then kept chipping away. Jacob Walker scored four of the next six points for the Cowboys, and Kanye Clark followed with an 8-0 burst of his own, capped by two threes that forced a timeout and pulled Oklahoma State within 68-60 with under 10 minutes left.
The Aggies had a quiet stretch offensively, going five minutes without a field goal, but they stayed in front by taking advantage of fouls. Free throws helped steady things, then Griffin and Pope each knocked down a three to push the margin back out.
Texas A&M finished the game the way it needed to, closing on a 7-0 run and allowing only two points over the final 3:53. The final numbers reflected the control the Aggies eventually established: 51 percent shooting from the field, 48 percent from three, and 71 percent at the line.
“It wasn't pretty, but like I said last year, we're not here to win Oscars, we're here to win basketball games,” McMillan said. “That was a great win for us.”
In Other News...
Mike Elko Faces One Huge Choice In Texas A&Ms CFP Push
Texas A&Ms push toward the expanded College Football Playoff is starting to look like a 2027 conversation, and it may come down to how Mike Elko handles the biggest decision on his offense. The Aggies have a clearer picture on the defensive side after first-year coordinator Lyle Hemphill helped steady things, while the roster still has room to grow through recruiting and the transfer portal.
For Elko, the key question is whether Holmon Wiggins remains the right fit at offensive coordinator and how Marcel Reed is positioned as the starting quarterback picture develops. With the Aggies expected to be in the mix for another CFP run, those choices could shape whether Texas A&M has the balance and firepower to finally turn optimism into a real postseason push. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Gets An Early Home Test Fans Should Watch Closely
Texas A&Ms early-season schedule brings a noteworthy home test when the Aggies meet Oklahoma State in a blackout game, with the building set to be dressed in black and the matchup carrying a little extra edge because both teams are still unbeaten. It is the kind of November game that can tell you something real about where a team stands, especially when the opponent comes in with its own momentum and a head coach in Steve Lutz who already has his group moving in the right direction.
For the Aggies, it is also another chance to see how Bucky McMillans team handles a game with some atmosphere around it, not just a routine nonconference date. The series history adds another layer, and while early-season records can change quickly, this one has enough going for it to feel like more than a tune-up, which is exactly why fans should be watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Elko Sees One Big Tradeoff In Texas A&M's Playoff Boost
The College Football Playoffs move to 24 teams in 2027 figures to open more doors for programs like Texas A&M, which will have a better path to the postseason and a real chance to host playoff games. For a fan base that has spent years watching the bracket feel just out of reach, the expanded format offers obvious upside, especially with automatic bids in place for Power Five champions, the top Group of Five team and a larger pool of at-large selections.
Mike Elko, though, sees the other side of the equation. While the Aggies stand to benefit from the added access, he has pointed to the tradeoff that comes with a bigger field, worrying that the regular season could lose some of its edge and that conference championships may matter less in the process. The top eight seeds will still get first-round byes, but the broader question for A&M and everyone else is whether the road to the playoff gets easier at the cost of what made the chase feel so urgent in the first place. [Read more 🡒]