Texas A&M made a statement on Wednesday night at Reed Arena, and they did it with relentless, in-your-face defense that left Mississippi State gasping for air. The Aggies rolled to a 20-point win, and at the heart of it all was head coach Bucky McMillan’s signature press-an aggressive, high-octane style that’s quickly becoming one of the most disruptive defensive systems in college basketball.
Mississippi State came in with offensive firepower, but the Aggies snuffed it out early and often. The Bulldogs were held to just 23% shooting from beyond the arc and turned the ball over 13 times.
That pressure didn’t just show up on the stat sheet-it wore on the Bulldogs physically and mentally. Just ask MSU guard Josh Hubbard, who had been averaging 22.3 points per game before arriving in College Station.
Against the Aggies, he managed just 12 points on 5-of-14 shooting.
“Josh actually came to me, and he was like, ‘Dang, are y’all gonna stop pressing? I’m getting tired out here,’” one Aggie player said with a grin.
“And I’m like, ‘Man, unfortunately not, bro.’” That exchange says it all-this defense isn’t just about forcing turnovers; it’s about breaking opponents down.
Jacari Lane, who was one of four Aggies to score in double figures, joined TexAgs to walk through the film and highlight a 6-0 run that Texas A&M put together in just 19 seconds. That kind of burst is exactly what McMillan’s system is built for: chaos, speed, and capitalizing on mistakes. The Aggies racked up 14 points off turnovers and held the lead for 32 minutes, controlling the tempo and the tone from start to finish.
And let’s not forget where this program started under McMillan. When he took over, the roster had just one scholarship player.
Fast forward to now, and the Aggies are sitting at 15-4 overall and 5-1 in SEC play, riding a wave of momentum that’s put them atop the conference standings. Every win isn’t just another notch in the belt-it’s a step closer to turning postseason dreams into reality.
Next up? A key conference showdown with South Carolina.
The Gamecocks come into Reed Arena at 11-8 overall and 2-4 in SEC play, looking to slow down one of the hottest teams in the league. Tip-off has been moved to 12 p.m.
CT and will be broadcast on SEC Network+.
If Wednesday night was any indication, the Aggies aren’t planning to take their foot off the gas anytime soon.