COLUMBIA, SC – The Texas A&M men’s basketball team snapped a six-game losing streak to the South Carolina Gamecocks with relentless precision in a dominating 94-53 victory at Colonial Life Arena.
The Aggies won their sixth straight game while improving to 4-0 in Southeastern Conference play for the second year in a row and setting a series of scoring and margin of victory records.
The 41-point margin of victory was the largest in history against an SEC opponent, eclipsing a 34-point margin in a 79-45 road victory over Georgia on Jan. 16, 2016. It was the second-largest margin of victory against any conference opponent, behind only the 44-point margin against Texas Tech in 2007-08. and Texas in 1958-59. The 94 points were the most against an SEC opponent, eclipsing a 91-point effort against the Georgia Bulldogs last season.
Texas A&M led from wire to wire as the defense was relentless and the offense was hot and never cooled down. The Aggies allowed just 18 points in the first half while closing in on their season-high 50 points before the break. It was the fewest points scored in the first half in the 2022-23 season. (previous low was 22 points by Loyola Chicago) was the fewest against an SEC opponent since Missouri scored 18 points in the first half in 2020.
The Aggies shot a season-high 54.8% from the field, and the team had another strong offense from the 3-point line (9-of-20). Defensively, the Aggies limited South Carolina to 29.2% from the field in the first half and just 38.0% for the game. The Aggies grabbed a season-high 48 rebounds while holding a huge 32 rebound advantage over the Gamecocks.
Five Aggies scored in double figures with the sophomore Wade Taylor IV led with 20 points as he hit 8-of-10 shots, including 4-of-6 from the arc. Other Aggies in double figures were Julius marble with 14, Dexter Dennis with 13 and Henry Coleman II and KK Robinson with 12. Coleman III had a game-high 11 rebounds for his second straight double-double and third of the season.
Quote after the game
Head coach Buzz Williams
About what the team has done well in defense lately…
“I think our staff has done a really good job in the first two weeks of SEC play taking the core of what we do defensively and then what’s specific to the opponent. What adjustments do we need to make? Devin Johnson is our defensive coordinator and he has been excellent in making those adjustments. I also think our guys should get some credit because those real-time adjustments, when that’s not the core of what you’re doing, to win in this league, you have to be on point. I think our guys were able to be consistent in their reps in practice and those adjustments and that combination of reps really helped.”
Texas A&M Men’s Basketball Postgame Notes
Texas A&M 94, South Carolina 53
Colonial Life Arena (Columbia, SC)
SERIES RECORDS AND NOTES
- Texas A&M defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks, 94-53, on Saturday night at Colonial Life Arena.
- The Aggies improved to 12-5 overall, 4-0 in SEC action, 2-0 in SEC road games and 3-1 overall in road games.
- The win gave the Aggies their first six-game winning streak of the season.
- The Maroon & White improved to 5-9 all-time against the Gamecocks, snapping a six-game losing streak against South Carolina.
NOTES OF THE TEAMS
- Texas A&M’s 94 points are its most against an SEC opponent since joining the conference in 2012-13.
- The Aggies’ 41-point victory is the largest margin of victory against an SEC opponent. (34-point win at Georgia in 2016).
- The Maroon & White limited South Carolina to just 18 first-half points, the fewest first-half points the Aggies have allowed this season.
- The Aggies shot 55% from the field (34-of-62) which is a season high in field goal percentage. The 34 field goals made also mark a season high.
- Texas A&M outrebounded South Carolina by a 48-16 rebounding margin. The Aggies’ 48 rebounds are a season high.
- The Aggies held the Gamecocks to a season-low 16 rebounds. The last time South Carolina had fewer than 20 rebounds against an SEC opponent was in 2007.
- Texas A&M’s 20 offensive rebounds ties the season high previously accomplished against Murray State on Nov. 7, 2022.
- The Maroon & White scored 27 points in the second opportunity and limited the Gamecocks to just seven.
- The Aggies had five players finish in double figures for the first time since Dec. 3, 2022 against Boise State.
- A&M had a player record a double-double for the second straight game, posting his fifth double-double of the season.
- Texas A&M used a combination of starting lineups Henry Coleman III, Dexter Dennis, Julius marble, Tyrece Radford and Wade Taylor IV for the eighth time this season (7-1).
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Henry Coleman III
- He recorded his second consecutive double-double performance as he finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
- He achieved his third double-double of the season and eighth of his career.
- He tied his season record in rebounds with 11.
- For the third time this year and the ninth time in his career, he achieved a double-digit number of rebounds.
- Led the team in rebounds for the fifth time this year and 23rdrd his career.
- He recorded three assists and had two steals.
Dexter Dennis
- Scored double figures for third straight game after finishing with 13.
- Collected eight rebounds and had a steal.
- Recorded in double figures for the seventh time this season and 57thth his career.
Andre Gordon
- He drained a 3-pointer and went 2-of-4 from the field for five points.
- Finished with a rebound, a steal and an assist.
Hayden Hefner
- Drained two three-pointers and finished with six points.
- He tied his season high in assists with three.
- Scored a rebound and a steal.
Julius marble
- He had 14 points after finishing 4-of-8 from the field and 6-of-7 from the charity stripe.
- Scored double-digit points for the fourth straight game.
- He tied his career high in blocks with two and also had a steal.
- Recorded double figures for the 10thth season time and 18th his career.
Tyrece Radford
- Finished with four points and six rebounds.
- He dished out three assists and had a steal.
Khalen Robinson
- He recorded a season-high 12 points after finishing 3-of-4 from the field and 6-of-7 from the charity stripe.
- Recorded three career rebounds.
- Finished in double figures for the first time this season and second time in his career.
Wade Taylor IV
- He led all players with 20 points after finishing 8-of-10 from the field and 4-of-6 from three.
- Scored 20 or more points for the fifth time this season and sixth in his career.
- Recorded double digits for the 14thth time of this season and 29th time of his career.
- Squeezed out four three-pointers.
- Led the team in points for the seventh time this season.
- He tied his career high with five rebounds.
Solomon Washington
- Collected a career-high six rebounds.
- He matched his career high in blocks with two.
- Also won three points.