Texas A&M (10-7, 1-3 SEC) dropped their 3rd SEC game in a last-second 78-77 loss to the Arkansas Razorbacks (10-7, 1-3 SEC) at Bud Walton Arena on Tuesday.
The Aggies started off the game back to their old ways of missing everything to start the game and missing starters. Almost 10 minutes into the matchup, A&M was down 19-5 and could not stop fouling the much longer, athletic Arkansas roster. Nothing changed for most of the half; the Aggies continued to miss shots and play poor perimeter defense.
History was looking to repeat itself early in more ways than one way. First, the Aggies again went cold from the field like too many games this season, and they have only won a single game at Arkansas in their last 16 attempts. Even with a late push to cut a 20-point deficit down to 12, the Aggies ended the half with a foul, giving Arkansas two more free points. A 1-15 shooting output from the three-point line was not going to get it done as they went into the locker room down 46-32
The second half started off with an encouraging rate of play after star guard Wade Taylor IV stole the ball for an easy layup. A&M was able to cut the lead back down to 10, but the play got sloppy for both teams, committing some ticky-tack fouls before they settled back into a calmer pace. Even with that, both teams went ice cold from the field, with Wade Taylor IV having once again to resort to hero ball, pulling the back to within four points.
Fouls on top of fouls slowed the game to a snail’s pace as both teams traded free throws for about ten minutes, with the Aggies unable to gain any ground. As the refs blew whistle after whistle, Wade Taylor was finally able to close the gap and tie the game with under a minute left at 74-74. With 7.6 to play, Taylor hit an incredible trademark-like three to give the Aggies their first game lead at 77-76.
However, history is a great teacher of what you might be able to expect, and with just seconds left on the clock, Arkansas gave the A&M a lesson. Down one, the Razorback’s Tramon Mark answered Taylor’s three with a stomach-turn shot right over Jace Carter’s outstretched arm for the game-winning shot. Arkansas earned their first SEC win with a 78-77 victory and dropping the Aggies to 1-16 when they travel to Razorback territory.
NOTE: Henry Coleman did not suit out
Below are the Aggie critical contributors from the game:
Wade Taylor IV: 41 points (career high) / 6 rebounds
Andersson Garica: 10 points / 12 rebounds
Texas A&M will be back on the road when they travel to Baton Rouge to take on LSU on January 20 at 3:00 pm CT.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1.