Texas A&M Blows Past Jacksonville in Statement Win: 3 Key Takeaways
After a gut-punch overtime loss to SMU last week, Texas A&M men’s basketball didn’t just bounce back - they roared back. The Aggies steamrolled Jacksonville 112-75 at Reed Arena on Sunday night, turning frustration into fuel and putting together one of the most dominant performances of their season. The win pushes A&M to 8-3 on the year and marks the ninth-highest scoring output in program history.
Here’s what stood out from the Aggies’ emphatic win - and why it could be the spark they needed heading into the heart of their non-conference slate.
1. A&M Let Out Its Frustration - Loudly
There’s no sugarcoating it: last week’s collapse against SMU stung. Texas A&M led by four with 40 seconds left in regulation and still managed to lose by double digits in overtime. Head coach Bucky McMillan admitted he didn’t sleep after that one, and you could tell his team didn’t either - at least not peacefully.
So when Jacksonville came to town, the Aggies were ready to let it all out. After briefly trailing 5-4 early, A&M took the lead with 17:37 left in the first half and never looked back.
They were relentless on both ends, building a 25-point halftime lead and stretching it to as much as 49 in the second half. This wasn’t just a win - it was a message.
Rylan Griffen, who had been battling illness and frustration, led the charge with a season-high 19 points in just 17 minutes. He was one of six Aggies in double figures, with Jamie Vinson (14), Mackenzie Mgbako (13), Marcus Hill (12), Rubén Dominguez (10), and Ali Dibba (10) all joining the party.
“I was sick on Monday,” Griffen said. “Didn’t even want to get out of bed.
I was anxious to play again. We needed this.”
And it showed. A&M didn’t just beat Jacksonville - they overwhelmed them, using the full depth of the roster. Fourteen of 15 players scored, and the team looked energized from tip to final buzzer.
2. Efficient, Balanced, and Relentless on Offense
The numbers speak for themselves, but the way A&M got them is what really jumps off the page.
The Aggies shot a blistering 59.2% from the field - their best mark of the season - and knocked down 12-of-25 from deep (48%). It wasn’t just hot shooting, though. This was a clinic in offensive execution: smart ball movement, strong finishes at the rim, and the kind of rhythm that comes when everyone’s locked in.
They racked up 27 assists on 42 made buckets, with guards Jacari Lane and Marcus Hill each dishing out five. But the distribution didn’t stop there - 10 players recorded at least one assist, and six had two or more. That’s the sign of a team playing connected basketball.
Down low, A&M dominated the paint with a 54-28 scoring advantage and out-rebounded Jacksonville 42-25. Vinson, in particular, was a force inside, going a perfect 6-for-6 from the field with most of his points coming at the rim - layups, tip-ins, and dunks.
“We were attacking the rim really well,” Vinson said. “When you get the other team in rotations, it makes it a lot easier to flow on offense.”
And on the defensive end? The Aggies forced 19 turnovers, turning them into 20 points.
They were especially disruptive in the first half, holding Jacksonville to just 36% shooting and forcing 13 giveaways before the break. The Dolphins found a bit more rhythm in garbage time, but by then, the damage was long done.
3. Rylan Griffen Looks Like Himself Again
If there was one player who needed a game like this, it was Griffen. The Kansas transfer had missed time with the flu and was clearly still working his way back in his first two games after returning - combining for just nine points on 4-of-14 shooting with six turnovers.
Sunday night? Different story.
Griffen looked like the player A&M hoped he’d be when they brought him in. He scored 19 points on 7-of-8 shooting, including a red-hot 5-of-6 from three. He was confident, efficient, and active - everything that had been missing in his first two games back.
“It all was going to come back,” Griffen said. “I just needed to get back in the weight room, get back eating the right food.
I wasn’t really active when I was sick, and it took a while to feel like myself again. But I think I’m back now.”
That’s big news for an A&M team that’s been dealing with a revolving door of injuries and absences. Mgbako missed the first five games with a foot injury.
Pop Isaacs has been in and out of the lineup after offseason hip surgery. Griffen’s flu knocked him out for nine days.
It’s been a patchwork rotation for most of the non-conference schedule.
McMillan didn’t make excuses, but he did acknowledge the challenge.
“We’ve had some goofy circumstances with some key players,” he said. “Pop’s injury, Mackenzie couldn’t play, then Rylan has the flu for nine days.
What strain of the flu is that? The alpha flu?”
Now, with Griffen looking like himself and the roster inching closer to full strength, A&M might finally be turning the corner.
What’s Next for the Aggies
This win doesn’t erase the sting of the SMU loss, but it might be the start of something more important: momentum. With conference play looming, Texas A&M needed a game like this - not just to pad the win column, but to find their rhythm, their depth, and their edge.
If Griffen continues to look like the player we saw on Sunday, and if the team can stay healthy, the Aggies could be a tough out in the SEC. For now, they’ll take the win, the confidence boost, and the reminder of what they look like when everything clicks.