Texas A&M came out of the gate looking sharp, rolling past Alabama State 97-66 in its season opener and giving an early look at what this rebuilt roster might become over the 2026-27 season.
For a team that brought in 11 newcomers and returned only five players from last year, there was plenty of uncertainty about how quickly everything would click. On this night, though, the Aggies played like a group that already had a feel for one another.
PJ Haggerty wasted no time showing why he could be the centerpiece of this team. He finished with 22 points, going 8-for-14 from the floor and adding five points at the free-throw line. He gave Texas A&M the kind of shot creation and scoring pressure that can change the shape of an offense.
Jalen Shelly made his presence felt, too, posting a double-double in his first game in Maroon and White with 14 points and 12 rebounds. That kind of start is exactly what Texas A&M needs from a roster still learning itself.
The scoring came from all over. Five Aggies reached double figures, a sign that this group may have real depth on the offensive end. The team also did damage inside, outscoring Alabama State 42-26 in the paint.
But the most encouraging part might have been on the defensive side. Texas A&M forced 25 turnovers and turned them into 30 points. The Aggies also piled up 18 fast-break points, finished with 13 steals and six blocks, and held Alabama State to 33% shooting from the field.
Jordan Pope chipped in on that end with three steals, helping fuel a defense that never let Alabama State settle in. Texas A&M never trailed, opened up a 44-29 halftime lead, and closed the first period on a 21-9 run before stretching the margin to as many as 33.
There were still a few loose edges. The Aggies had 11 turnovers of their own and shot only 60% from the free-throw line, finishing 29-for-48. Those are the kinds of numbers that can matter a lot more once SEC play arrives.
CBS Sports’ preseason SEC projections had Texas A&M ninth in the conference, so this team entered the year with something to prove. One win over Alabama State won’t rewrite those expectations, but it did show why the Aggies might have more upside than that ranking suggests.
With Haggerty giving them a go-to scorer, Shelly contributing on the glass, and multiple players making an impact, Texas A&M has pieces that could matter. The real test is whether that level of execution holds up once the competition gets tougher and the chemistry is tested more often.
For now, the Aggies have a strong first impression and a reason to believe this roster could be better than the preseason forecast.
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For Texas A&M, the path is fairly clear even if the execution is not. The Aggies need to run the ball effectively and keep South Carolina from dictating the pace, because controlling time of possession may be their best way to stay in the game and create a chance to steal one on the road. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Suddenly Has A Real Shot To Flip This Road Test
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For A&M, the appeal is less about hype than about the way this game fits into the larger betting picture. The analysis around the weekend points to underdog angles and a few spots where rankings and recent form suggest the gap may not be as wide as it looks, which is exactly the kind of setup that can make a road test feel more winnable than expected. [Read more 🡒]