The 25th-ranked Texas A&M Aggies (21-8, 13-3 SEC) are still riding the magic carpet that is their six-game winning streak, just days after defeating the 11th-ranked Tennessee Vols inside Reed Arena on Tuesday night to the tune of 12,989 Aggies in attendance. On Saturday, it was time to hit the road once again to face perhaps the most dangerous “bubble” team in College Basketball, as Humphrey Coliseum awaited Texas A&M’s 2:30 PM afternoon showdown against Mississippi State (19-10, 7-9 SEC).
Ranked inside the Top 10 in total defense, the Bulldogs steadily prepared for a rock fight, knowing that slowing down Texas A&M’s offense early would result in consistent offensive output on their end while taking full advantage of senior forward Tolu Smith’s height differential in the paint.
After a close first half and a short Aggie run early in the second, Mississippi State put on a defensive juggernaut while holding Texas A&M scoreless for over twelve minutes in the second half, defeating the Aggies 69-62 to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive while ending Texas A&M’s six-game winning streak. Dropping to 13-3 in the SEC, the Aggies are now on the outside looking in terms of a regular season conference championship, yet are safely in the NCAA Tournament as we sit here today.
In the loss, guard Wade Taylor IV recorded his third 20-plus-point game with 21 points and 4-9 from three, while Henry Coleman III and Andersson Garcia scored 11 each on the day. For Mississippi State, three players hit double-digit scoring including Tolu Smith (17 points, 6 rebounds), Cameron Matthews (11 points, 5 rebounds), and Shakeel Moore (14 points, 4 rebounds).
Practically shut down from the field in the second half, the Aggies shot 39.5%, and 36.4% from 3-point range on the day, matching the Bulldogs with 31 rebounds. The team went 20-26 (76.9%) from the free-throw line, resulting in a bulk of their offense down the stretch.
The first half started just about as well as Mississippi State Head coach Chris Jans could have asked for, soaring out to a 21-14 lead at the eleven-minute mark after a 9-4 run, and shooting a highly efficient 80% from the field. However, the Aggies were once again able to rely on the hot hand of sophomore guard Wade Taylor IV, who capped off a 7-2 run with his third three-pointer (9 points) on the afternoon, trailing 24-21 at the 7:49 Official T.V Timeout.
Aggies forward and Mississippi State transfer Andersson Garcia’s return back to Humphrey Coliseum proved to serve as a conference boost, as the junior went 3-3 from the field, including his second 3-pointer on the season combined with 2 rebounds to bring the Aggies within 2 points at the second Offical T.V Timeout at the 2:45 mark. Even though the rebounding margin between both teams was paper thin, the Bulldogs’ six offensive rebounds hindered Texas A&M’s offensive momentum, paired with 8 turnovers that led to multiple defensive stops from both squads, heading into halftime still trailing 30-28.
Texas A&M leaders at the half: Wade Taylor IV (3-5, 3-4 3-Point, 9 points). Andersson Garcia (3-3, 1-1 3-Point, 9 points). Team: 45.5% from the field, 44.4% (4-9) from 3-point. 15 points in the paint. 15 rebounds.
Mississippi State leaders: Tolu Smith (3-4, 3 rebounds, 7 points). Shakeel Moore (3-8, 1-5 3-point, 9 points). Team: 40.7% from the field, 15.4% (2-13) from 3-point. 15 points in the paint. 15 rebounds (7 offensive).
HALFTIME: Texas A&M: 28. Mississippi State: 30
Sloppy yet intriguing is how I would describe the first half of this matchup, shifting to a second half that immediately saw the Aggies much more judicious on offense, starting the half on a 13-5 run orchestrated by Wade Taylor IV and Dexter Dennis’ three 3-pointers to take a 41-35 lead with 15:15 left. Without blinking, the Bulldogs quickly cut into the deficit after making defensive adjustments, finding open lanes, and making their way to the free-throw line to go on their own 12-5 run as Humphry Coliseum came alive once again.
As both defenses went toe to toe in an elongated fashion, The Bulldogs held Texas A&M to their largest offensive drought of the season, where Aggies were held scoreless from the field for nearly twelve minutes since the 14:09 mark of the second half, managing to stay within 7 points due to being in the double bonus with just 2:02 remaining, trailing 62-54 all in the midst of a 13-5 Mississippi State run. As the ugliness continued for the Maroon and White, the boxscore told the story in a nutshell; with 20 fouls on the day, including five from Solomon Washington, Tyrece Radford, and Andersson Garcia, Ā the Aggies looked unfocused, and slightly depleted after their emotionally draining win over Tennessee on Tuesday night.
With the foul game in motion, Henry Coleman III finally broke through the scoring drought with a layup off a Bulldogs turnover to bring the Aggies within four with 1:18 left, but would only score two more points from the free throw line in one of the more disappointing second half performances this season for Texas A&M, losing 69-62, and snapping their six-game winning streak.
Taking a closer look into the loss, the Aggies surrendered 34 points in the paint to the Bulldogs, who scored near the rim at will late in the game, keeping their defense fresh to completely shut down Texas A&M’s offensive sets at a historic pace. On paper, the Aggies played well enough on the defensive end to come out on the winning end, holding the Bulldogs to 14.3% from deep, which will sting even more knowing that if the offense was just a little better in the second half, we might be discussing a 14 SEC win team. One thought to ponder after the loss has been the disappearing act of senior guard Tyrece Radford, who went 0-5 from the field before fouling out. Struggling around the rim since his 30-point road performance against Auburn on Feb. 7th, the old “Boots” needs to reappear in order for the Aggies to accomplish their post-season goals
Texas A&M will stay in the Magnolia state and travel to Oxford, Mississippi to take on Ole Miss (10-18, 2-13 SEC) on Tuesday night, trying to bounce back in a big way before their season finale matchup with Alabama on Saturday, March 4th.
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