In a thrilling showdown, Texas A&M (18-8, 8-5 SEC) pulled off a stunning 80-77 victory over Ole Miss on Wednesday night. The Aggies, who seemed out of sorts for much of the second half, managed to hold the Rebels scoreless in the final 3:36.
It was a game that demanded a hero, and senior forward Zach Clemence stepped up to the plate. Clemence, coming off the bench, poured in 14 points, including the crucial go-ahead basket that pushed the Aggies ahead 78-77 with under 20 seconds remaining.
The drama peaked when Ole Miss missed a critical three-point attempt, leaving the door open for Texas A&M. Senior big man Rashaun Agee seized the moment, calmly sinking two free throws to seal the win and snap the Aggies' four-game losing streak. First-year head coach Bucky McMillan didn't mince words, labeling this matchup as a "must-win" to avoid slipping back into the NCAA Tournament bubble.
With this win, Texas A&M finds itself in a promising position. The latest mock draft from the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee has them slated as an 8-seed, potentially facing 9-seed Indiana in Greenville, South Carolina. However, this projection is just a snapshot, with five regular-season games still on the horizon.
According to BarTorvik, the Aggies boast a 91.7% chance of making the NCAA Tournament. To secure an at-large bid, they'll likely need to clinch at least three more victories.
The road ahead starts with a crucial away game against Oklahoma this weekend, followed by a challenging stretch that includes matchups against Arkansas (away), Texas and Kentucky (home), and a regular-season finale against LSU in Louisiana. The stakes are high, but if the Aggies continue to show this kind of resilience, their tournament dreams could very well become a reality.