Texas A&M is hitting its stride at just the right time, pulling off a pair of crucial wins to bolster their NCAA Tournament hopes. The Aggies, sitting at 19-8 overall and 9-5 in the SEC, edged out Ole Miss 80-77 on Wednesday and followed it up with a gritty 75-71 victory over Oklahoma on Saturday. These wins not only completed a sweep of the Sooners but also bumped their chances of an at-large bid to nearly 80%, according to ESPN.
The Aggies were led by their dynamic forward, Rashaun Agee, who put up 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Senior guard Rylan Griffen chipped in with 14 points, knocking down three crucial three-pointers.
It was a team effort, with four players scoring eight or more points. Off the bench, Zach Clemence continued to be a difference-maker, adding 14 points on Wednesday and nine more on Saturday.
Defensively, Texas A&M was on point, especially in containing Oklahoma's top scorer, Nigel Pack, limiting him to just six points on 2-9 shooting. They also snagged six steals and dominated the paint with 32 points, all while keeping turnovers to a minimum with just five on the night. This is the kind of performance Aggies fans hope to see as the season winds down.
This victory marked their fourth Quad 1 win, a significant boost as they head into March. In the NET rankings, they climbed to No. 42, with an opportunity to rise even further when they take on Arkansas on the road this Wednesday.
With four regular-season games left, Texas A&M is eyeing at least two more wins to feel confident about their March Madness prospects. Securing eleven conference victories would likely seal the deal for an at-large bid, setting the stage for an exciting finish to the season.