pharrel payne – Syndication Server

“I think it would be foolish of me to take any credit for any of this” Buzz praises the character of his players

Texas A&M head coach Buzz Williams praise the families of his player for their win over Ole Miss

Road games are challenging in any conference, but in the SEC, from top to bottom, it’s a juggernaut. Texas A&M shocked the Ole Miss fans into silence as they stole the victory on a three-point shot from Manny Obaseki for a final score of 63-62.

There have been a few games this season where A&M could have phoned it in and taken a loss to conserve some energy for the tough road ahead, but the Aggies are not built like that. Coach Buzz Williams gives most of that credit to his players’ families for raising a group of men who will fight to the bitter end.

“…for whatever reason other than how our young men were raised I think they just kind of hang around and see if we can try real hard and see if it can turn into something positive”

It was a gusty twelve-round fight in The Sandy and John Black Pavilion on Wednesday night and the Fighting Texas Aggies willed their way to a win capturing a much-needed SEC victory.

Below you can watch the full post-game press conference.

Texas A&M will stay on the road when they travel to Austin to face Texas on Jan. 25 at 1:30p.m. CST. The game can be watched on ESPN2.

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.

Instant reaction to Texas A&M basketball’s last second 63-62 victory over Ole Miss

Manny Obaseki hits game winner in defensive battle to secure A&M’s fourth conference victory

It was not pretty, but Texas A&M (15-4, 4-2 SEC) steals a win on the road against Ole Miss (15-4, 4-2 SEC) with Pharrel Payne and Manny Obaseki stepping up big in the come from behind victory. Texas A&M now has an impressive six Quad 1 wins one the year.

Following two consecutive conference losses, the team celebrates back-to-back victories, marking their first ranked win since the start of SEC play. In contrast to earlier matches, the officials allowed both teams to battle it out, resulting in a gritty, old-school style of play, with each team shooting under 40% throughout the game.

This was another contest where the depth and experience of being in high-pressure situations proved to be the key to this win. With an under-the-weather Zhuric Phelps and Wade Taylor having one of their worst games with the Aggies, they needed help from everyone. That’s where Payne and Obaseki shined.

Payne had yet another impressive performance, scoring 10 points on 4-6 shooting. Obaseki was named MVP after contributing 12 points with 4 of 7 shooting, highlighted by a game-winning three-pointer, assisted by Phelps, with only 14 seconds left—this was A&M’s sole lead in the match.

Ultimately, the Aggies need to improve their performance in critical moments. However, they managed to blend the challenges and successes tonight, earning another conference victory.

GAME NOTES:

Payne and Obaseki combined for 22 points and 9 rebounds
Texas A&M outrebounded Ole Miss 48-31
38.7% FG / 28.6% 3PT / 77.8% FT

Texas A&M will stay on the road when they travel to Austin to face Texas on Jan. 25 at 1:30p.m. CST. The game can be watched on ESPN2.

Here are the best photos from No. 11 Texas A&M’s 68-57 win over LSU

View some best photos from Texas A&M’s bounce back win over LSU

Texas A&M (14-4, 3-2 SEC) earned a much-needed victory on Saturday after their defensive prowess held LSU to a season-low 57 points.

It was a welcome surprise to see star guard Wade Taylor IV back on the court, but it was a shaky return, going 3-13 from the field.

However, he is the best free-throw shooter on the team and went 5-6 from the stripe, ending with 12 points, extending his double-digit scoring streak. It was also great to see forward Henry Coleman get back in the mix, with 10 points on 5-7 shooting.

Coach Buzz Williams will always praise his team’s heart and knows that even when things are not going their way, they will never give up working hard to improve.

“The competitive maturity of our guys is other-worldly. When the ball was in the air, last week we didn’t do the things that got us to this point. When Alabama shot it, they got it back 51 percent of the time. We’ve worked on it since then.”

Here are the best photos from Saturday night’s game.

A&M will return to face No. 21 Ole Miss at The Sandy and John Black Pavilion on Jan. 22 at 8:00 p.m. CST. The game can be watched on ESPN2.

Everything Texas A&M HC Buzz Williams had to say after the loss to Kentucky

Head coach Buzz Williams praises Kentucky after tough road loss

After a hot start, Texas A&M has been roaming in no man’s land the past two weeks, dropping back-to-back games against Alabama and Kentucky after narrowly escaping Oklahoma.

Defensively, the Aggies have not been playing poorly and are giving up the regular shots they always have. So, when you are playing some of the top-scoring teams in the nation, they are going to get their looks.

The same goes for A&M. They could easily be an 85-point-a-night team if they were more efficient.

Texas A&M has been getting some great looks from the three-point line but can’t convert, and they have missed over 30 free throws over the last two games. In what turned out to be an emotionally charged game against Kentucky, the offense looked like a completely different team than what they have put on the court over the last month.

“I think you have to play with great emotion in order for it to be a game you just can’t be emotional”

A&M needs to get Wade Taylor back on the court as soon as possible to structure the flow of the game because right now, the Aggies seem lost.

Below, you can watch the entire post-game conference.

Texas A&M will return to face LSU at Reed Arena on Jan. 18 at 7:30 p.m. CST. The game can be watched on SEC Network.

Here are the best photos from No. 10 Texas A&M’s 81-69 loss to No. 8 Kentucky

View some best photos from Texas A&M’s rough 81-69 road loss to Kentucky

Tuesday night was one of the worst Texas A&M basketball performances I have ever seen this year. The loss drops the Aggies to 2-2 in conference play and will need to return to the drawing board to get back on track.

The biggest issue has been at the free throw line and because of how A&M plays offense they get numerous opportunities at the line. For the second consecutive game, the Aggies shot under 65%, and if they had just shot their average of 70% it would have been a much different game.

They also have to find an offensive identity while they are waiting for Wade Taylor to return from injury. Outside of Pharrel Payne, they are struggling to score and relying too much on one-on-one ball.

Here are the best photos from Saturday night’s game.

Texas A&M will return to face LSU at Reed Arena on Jan. 18 at 7:30 p.m. CST. The game can be watched on SEC Network.

Texas A&M forward Pharrel Payne is one of the most efficient players in the country

Texas A&M junior forward Pharrel Payne has been one of the most efficient scorers in the country this season

Texas A&M’s (13-3, 2-2 SEC) once-perfect conference record has become ancient history, as the Aggies have lost consecutive matchups over the last three days, including Tuesday’s defeat at the hands of No. 8 Kentucky on the road, falling 81-69.

Before facing the Wildcats in Rupp Arena, Texas A&M senior guard Wade Taylor IV missed his third straight game and fourth of the year. The team’s leading scorer is still dealing with a lower-body issue that coach Buzz Williams has kept under wraps ever since.

In a nutshell, Texas A&M’s offense couldn’t find any rhythm against a poor Kentucky defense that shut the Aggies down inside. Many of these issues stem from A&M’s excessive three-point shooting, which resulted in twelve misses in the second half.

However, the lone bright spot in the paint was reserve forward Pharrel Payne, who has been one of the most efficient players in the country. The junior finished 5-5 from the field for 15 points and is now 32-35 from the floor, leading the NCAA at 91.4% against Power 5 opponents.

While Payne could quickly start, Williams depends on him to provide a spark off the bench, especially with Taylor out of the lineup. Still, Payne’s iso scoring is impressive, but until Taylor returns to run the point, his efficiency will be counted on to get the Aggies in rhythm.

As TexAgs; Luke Evangelist pointed out, Payne’s free throw shooting has also improved in his last nine games, shooting 68.7% after shooting a dismal 42.8% in the first eight games.

Texas A&M will return home to host LSU in Reed Arena on Jan. 18 at 7:30 p.m. CST. The game can be watched on the SEC Network.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty

Here are the best photos from No. 10 Texas A&M’s 94-88 loss to No. 5 Alabama

View some best photos from Texas A&M’s rough 94-88 home loss to Alabama

A commendable trait of the Texas A&M basketball team is their relentless effort; they play hard for all 40 minutes. Conversely, their most frustrating aspect is their inconsistency in making jump shots from any position on the court.

Saturday night revealed the team’s difficulties at a critical time. The Aggies recorded 22.2% from beyond the three-point arc, made only four shots, and missed 20 free throws, achieving under 60% overall.

One could reasonably say that had they converted one additional three-pointer and shot at least 65% from the free-throw line, then the Aggies could have defeated a top 5 team.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be, and they must now move on and focus on their next game against another top-ten Kentucky team. Here are the best photos from Saturday night’s game.

Texas A&M will return to face No. 6 Kentucky at Rupp Arena on Jan. 14 at 6:00 p.m. CST. The game can be watched on ESPN2.

Texas A&M’s defensive rankings after the Aggies’ 20-point win over Texas

Here is where Texas A&M’s defense ranks nationally after defeating Texas on Saturday night

Texas A&M (12-2) defeated rival Texas 80-60 on Saturday night, as the Aggies look like one of the best teams in the country despite being among a stacked SEC in one of the odder years in the conference.

Coach Buzz Williams deserves credit for bringing back most of last season’s team while bringing in Zhuric Phelps, Pharrel Payne, and CJ Wilcher from the transfer portal, which has significantly impacted the team offensively and defensively.

Focusing on A&M’s defense, the Aggies limited Texas to 34% from the field and 7-26 from beyond the arc while disrupting nearly every offensive possession and limiting star freshman guard Tre Johnson to 2-13 for 11 points.

After the game, the Aggies unsurprisingly rose in the NET rankings, while A&M’s elite defense now ranks among the time units in the country. Thanks to 247Sports’ Carter Karels, here is a comprehensive look at where Texas A&M ranks in every critical defensive metric:

5th in defensive rating
12th in field goal % defense
17th in points per game allowed
26th in 3-point field goal % defense

Texas A&M’s early schedule is demanding. It starts with Oklahoma on the road on Wednesday, followed by home and road matchups against Alabama and Kentucky over the next week and a half. However, if A&M’s defense continues to hold things down, every game is up for the taking.

Texas A&M will head to Norman to face Oklahoma on Wednesday, Jan. 8. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.

“I’ve never witnessed anything like that….” Texas A&M’s Pharrel Payne speaks on atmosphere at Reed Arena

“I was really excited to get in here and play” Hefner was ready for the Lone Star Rivalry

What a way for Texas A&M to open up conference play against rival Texas by storming back in the second half en route to an 80-60 win in front of a packed Reed Arena.

Major props have to be given to the crowd that showed up despite school not being back in session yet. The atmosphere was electric, and at times, it was extremely difficult to hear the play-by-play. It was a big factor in keeping the energy high, and it was very visible how the team fed off the student section.

“I’ve never witnessed anything like that. It was so exciting to play in that game.” – Pharrel Payne

“I knew it was going to be a pretty lively environment. Growing up, I didn’t watch it too much… I was really excited to get in here and play.” – Hayden Hefner

Fifth-year senior Hayden Hefner played a significant role in hitting some clutch shots, stifling any chance at a Longhorn comeback. He knows he must take advantage of the opportunities and answer when his number is called.

“Controlling my energy, controlling what I can control and doing whatever it takes to win.”

Below, you can watch the entire post-game conference.

Texas A&M will go on the road to face Oklahoma at Lloyd Noble Center on Jan. 8 at 8:00 p.m. CST. The game can be watched on SEC Network.

HC Buzz Williams praises Texas A&M’s offseason transfer portal additions

Texas A&M’s transfer portal additions, including Zhuric Phelps, Pharrel Payne and CJ Wilcher have helped lead the Aggies to an 11-2 record

Texas A&M’s 11-2 record in nonconference play represents the best start for coach Buzz Williams amid his sixth season with the program, mainly due to the returning veterans from the 2023-2024 roster, led by senior point guard Wade Taylor IV.

After losing veteran guard Tyrece “Boots” Radford to graduation, Williams knew that the only way the Aggies wouldn’t drop off from a production standpoint, especially in the backcourt, was to add a veteran guard to pair with Taylor. This led to the landing of former SMU guard Zhuric Phelps.

Needing an athletic forward to pair with Henry Coleman and Andersson Garcia, Williams gained a commitment from former Minnesota big game Pharrel Payne. At the same time, the final addition of transfer guard CJ Wilcher rounded out the most successful transfer portal haul in several offseasons.

So far, Phelps is second on the team with 12.9 points per game and a team-leading 2.6 steals per game, while Pharrel Payne has begun to ascend (7.3 ppg), and CJ Wilcher leads with Aggies from beyond the arc (39%)

During Tuesday’s Aggie Basketball Hour, Williams discussed the impact the transfer additions have made both culturally and on the court before hosting the Texas Longhorns to open SEC play on Saturday night:

“The staff has been near perfect in the vetting of those young men. Those decisions have to be made quickly with the portal changing each hour. If their character fits, it allows us to gain traction.”

Williams is known for recruiting character-rich players who fit his demanding defensive system, and so far, all three players have fit the mold, especially over the last month.

Texas A&M will host Texas on Saturday, Jan. 4, at 7:00 p.m. CT. The game will air on the SEC Network.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.