Texas A&M holds off Texas Southern late, 58-55
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) â Texas A&M coach Buzz Williams is thankful Josh Nebo overcame a preseason hamstring injury because the Aggies needed their primary big man in a big way on Monday night in a 58-55 comeback victory over Texas Southern.
Nebo grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds and blocked four shots and the Aggiesâ Savion Flagg scored 18 points in A&Mâs third consecutive victory. Nebo has played in all but the season opener after rebounding from the injury.
A&M clung to a 55-54 lead with 1:19 remaining when Nebo was fouled on an attempted layup. He missed both free throws, however, giving TSU (3-10) a chance to grab the lead.
Nebo responded by blocking Chris Baldwinâs short jumper in the paint, although the Aggiesâ Andre Gordon turned over the ball on the other end. Following a TSU miss, this time by John Jones, Jay Jay Chandler was fouled.
Chandler made the second of two free throws, and the Aggies (6-5) led 56-54 with 29 seconds left. TSUâs Tyrik Armstrong missed a short jumper in the lane that would have tied the game, and Flagg grabbed the rebound and was fouled. He made both free throws to push A&M to an insurmountable 58-54 lead.
âI feel like weâre starting to play better as a team,â Nebo said. âWe still have a lot of work to do, and itâs going to be tough every night. But as a team, weâre ready.â
The Aggies avenged an 88-73 Texas Southern victory a year prior in Reed Arena, one more loss last season that led to the end of the Billy Kennedy era at A&M. Yahuza Rasas and Jones each scored 15 points to lead the Tigers.
âWe came in here with the right mindset, and the guys were certainly ready for the challenge,â said TSUâs Johnny Jones, a former LSU coach. âThe (Aggies) made a couple of necessary plays, and we missed a couple of looks we had.â
Williams shrugged when asked if his initial A&M team is ready for SEC play.
âI donât know,â he said, later adding, âWe will not be favored in a game the rest of the year.â
BIG PICTURE
Texas Southern: Jones scheduled a slew of tough games leading to the opening of SWAC play, including road losses to No. 1 Gonzaga and No. 4 Oregon this month, with the idea his team gets tougher and not worn down from stiff competition.
âIf it doesnât kill you, it makes you stronger,â Jones said Monday.
Texas A&M: The Aggies hadnât played since Dec. 21 in taking an extended break for Christmas, and at times looked rusty. Williamsâ first A&M team hardly looks primed for SEC play in a handful of ways. But, ready or not, itâs here.
UP NEXT
Texas Southern hosts Southern on Saturday to open SWAC play.
Texas A&M opens SEC play at Arkansas on Saturday.
HIGHLIGHT REEL
A&Mâs Josh Nebo skied for a block of Yahuza Rasasâs attempted layup, the Aggiesâ Jay Jay Chandler grabbed the carom and went end-to-end for a dunk over the Tigersâ Jethro Tshisumpa to lift A&M to an 8-1 lead a little more than two minutes into the game.
STAT OF THE GAME
TSU made only 3-of-16 3-pointers (18.8 percent) but the Aggies were even worse, making 4-of-24 (16.7 percent) from long range. A&Mâs Jay Jay Chandler and Andre Gordon were a combined 1-of-13 on 3-point attempts.
HE SAID IT
âWe could say that we could have lost any of the âguaranteedâ games that we played. Or we could turn that around and say, âYeah, but we didnât.ââ
Buzz Williams on the state of his first Texas A&M team entering SEC play.