Texas A&M is hitting a rough patch at the wrong time of the season. After an 82-69 loss to No.
19 Vanderbilt, the Aggies have now dropped four straight and sit at 17-8 overall, 7-5 in SEC play. The loss in Nashville wasn’t just about missed shots - though there were plenty of those - it was also about missed opportunities.
A&M shot just 38% from the field and 28% from three, while Vanderbilt made the most of its trips to the line, going 29 times compared to Texas A&M’s limited attempts. That kind of disparity is hard to overcome, especially on the road.
The Aggies’ offense has become increasingly reliant on senior guard Marcus Hill, who once again led the way with 20 points. Hill has been one of the few consistent scoring threats during this slide, posting double-digit performances in four of the last five games. But one-man shows rarely win in the SEC, and the supporting cast hasn’t done enough to lighten the load.
Senior forward Rashaun Agee has been a bright spot for much of the season, but even he’s struggled to assert himself lately, finishing with just eight points in back-to-back games against Florida and Vanderbilt. That said, Agee’s recent dip is more about matchups than effort - the size and length he’s been up against in the paint haven’t done him any favors. The bigger concern lies in the backcourt, where the production has fallen off a cliff.
Senior guard Jacari Lane and sophomore Ruben Dominguez have both hit major slumps, and it’s showing up in the box score - and in the win-loss column. Lane is just 6-for-23 from the field over the last stretch and has only tallied 10 assists during the losing streak.
That’s opened the door for junior guard Pop Isaacs to see more minutes off the bench. Still, first-year head coach Bucky McMillan needs Lane’s speed and athleticism to keep the offense moving, especially in transition.
Then there’s Dominguez, whose struggles have been the most glaring. After setting the program’s single-game three-point record earlier this season, expectations were sky-high.
But over the last eight games, he’s averaging just 6.1 points while shooting 28.3% overall and 23.3% from deep. And it’s only gotten worse during the current four-game skid - Dominguez is putting up just 3 points per game on 17.4% shooting from the field and 16.7% from beyond the arc.
That kind of cold streak is tough to watch, especially from a player known for his shooting touch. And it’s not just aesthetics - it’s impacting results.
If Dominguez had found a rhythm in even one or two of those games, Texas A&M might have pulled off wins against Alabama or Missouri. That’s the difference between being 3-2 in your last five and sitting on a four-game slide.
That’s the difference between a comfortable NCAA Tournament seed and sweating it out on Selection Sunday.
Now, with Ole Miss coming to town on Wednesday, the Aggies are staring down a "must-win" situation. The margin for error is gone.
For Texas A&M to get back on track, they’ll need more than just Marcus Hill showing up. Lane has to find his footing, and Dominguez - whether he stays in the starting five or comes off the bench to reset - has to rediscover his shot.
The postseason is still within reach, but only if the Aggies can stop the bleeding - and fast.