Texas A&M took a punch to the gut Tuesday night in Knoxville, falling to No. 24 Tennessee 87-82 in a double-overtime thriller that slipped away in the final moments. The Aggies led for most of the game, but a late surge by the Vols, fueled by sheer size and relentless rebounding, proved too much to overcome.
Let’s start with the obvious: Tennessee absolutely dominated the glass. The Vols outrebounded the Aggies 60-35, including a staggering 24 offensive boards.
That’s not just a stat - that’s a difference-maker. Those second-chance opportunities translated into over 20 points, and in a game that went to double OT, that’s your ballgame right there.
First-year head coach Bucky McMillan has been forced to go small, and it showed against a physically imposing Tennessee frontcourt. The loss of transfer forward Mackenzie Mgbako for the season has left a noticeable void - not just in size, but in spacing and scoring versatility.
His presence likely could’ve shifted the outcome on Tuesday. Instead, McMillan’s squad has leaned heavily on 6'7" forward Rashaun Agee - who might be a bit shorter than listed - to battle in the paint.
Agee leads the team with 8.6 rebounds per game, but asking him to carry the load against a team like Tennessee is a tall order, literally and figuratively.
Still, credit where it’s due: this Texas A&M team plays with grit. They don’t back down, and they’re not afraid to get physical.
Despite the size mismatch, they went toe-to-toe with a ranked opponent on the road and nearly pulled it off. If a few late-game breaks had gone their way, we might be talking about a 16-1 Aggies team right now.
Instead, they’re 13-4 (3-1 in SEC play), with frustratingly close losses to UCF, SMU, and now Tennessee.
One of the biggest what-ifs from Tuesday came in the final seconds of regulation. Senior guard Rylan Griffin appeared to have secured a crucial rebound before the ball was knocked out of bounds by a Tennessee player.
But after review, the officials let the original call stand, and Tennessee kept possession. It’s the kind of moment that stings - especially when the margin is razor-thin.
Of course, it wasn’t just officiating that hurt the Aggies. They left points at the free-throw line, going 21-of-32.
In a game that stretched into double overtime, those 11 missed freebies loom large. Make a few more, and maybe there’s no need for extra basketball.
Despite the loss, there are signs that McMillan has this program ahead of schedule. In Year 1, with a depleted frontcourt and a new system, the Aggies are already making noise in the SEC.
They’ve shown they can hang with top-tier competition, and they’re earning national respect because of it. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi currently has them slotted as one of the Last Four Byes in his latest NCAA Tournament projection - grouped with the likes of Kentucky, USC, and Wisconsin.
That’s not a bad place to be in mid-January.
Still, there’s work to do. The Aggies need more Quad 1 wins if they want to solidify their tournament resume.
The next big opportunity? A rivalry showdown against Texas in Austin on Saturday night.
It’s a chance to bounce back, make a statement, and keep pushing toward March.
This team may be undersized, but they’re not underwhelming. With McMillan at the helm and a roster that refuses to quit, Texas A&M is quickly becoming one of the most intriguing stories in the SEC.