December 17, 1999
GAME #7 TEXAS A&M AGGIES (3-3) at LAMAR CARDINALS (2-4) 7:15 p.m. (Central) Saturday, Dec. 18, 1999 Montagne Center (10,080 cap.) Beaumont, TexasTV: None
RADIO: Texas A&M Radio Network
Dave South, play-by-play
Al Pulliam, commentary
The Texas A&M Aggies (3-3) play the third of six straight road games on Saturday when they play the Lamar Cardinals (2-4) at 7:15 p.m. at the Montagne Center in Beaumont. The Aggies have won three of their last four games and are coming off a 56-53 win against Rice last Saturday in the Houston Charity Classic. The Cardinals have lost three straight and are coming off an 81-79 loss at Louisiana-Lafayette on Tuesday. Lamar leads the series, 6-5, but A&M has won two of the last three meetings, including a 77-69 win last year in College Station. The Aggies have never won in Beaumont, losing four times. The last time the teams met in Beaumont was in the 1988-89 season, with the Cardinals posting a 74-67 victory at the Montagne Center. Lamar is 2-1 at home this season while the Aggies are 0-2 in true road games.
Scouting Report
Lamar opened the season 2-1 with home wins against Texas Southern (78-62) and Drake (62-44) sandwiched around a 67-56 road loss to SMU. Since then the Cardinals have lost road games to San Francisco (69-43) and La.-Lafayette (81-79) and a home game to Tulane (51-45). The Cardinals are led by senior forward Landon Rowe (6-8), who is averaging 11.8 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Junior guard Kenyon Spears (6-3) is adding 11.7 points while freshman forward Lewis Airline (6-6) is contributing 9.3 points and 5.5 boards per contest.
Injury Report
JASON BOEKER, Senior Forward: Left knee cap tendonitis (probable)
JAMAAL GILCHRIST, Freshman Guard: Sprained right ankle (probable)
LARRY JACKSON, Freshman Center: Left thigh inflamation (will not play)
ANDY LEATHERMAN, Sophomore Guard: Right knee tendonitis (will not play)
TOMAS RESS, Freshman Forward: Hyperextended right thumb (probable)
ANDY SLOCUM, Freshman Center: Sprained right ankle (probable)A&M-Lamar Series
Lamar leads, 6-5
In Beaumont: Lamar leads, 3-0 (1-0 at Montagne Center)
In College Station: A&M leads, 5-1
At Reed Arena: A&M leads, 1-0
At Neutral Sites: Lamar leads, 2-0
Current Win Streak: A&M, 2 games
Longest A&M Win Streak: 1 game (five times)
Longest Lamar Win Streak: 2 games
Largest A&M Win: 77-69 (1998-99)
Largest Lamar Win: 88-68 (1953-54)
Melvin Watkins vs. Lamar: 1-0
Mike Deane vs. A&M: 1-1
Watkins vs. Deane: Watkins leads, 4-1
Year Winner Site 1953-54 Lamar, 88-68 Beaumont 1961-62 A&M, 55-51 College Station 1962-63 Lamar, 81-74 Beaumont 1968-69 Lamar, 98-87 College Station 1970-71 A&M, 87-82 College Station 1979-80 Lamar, 61-60 Anchorage, Alaska 1981-82 A&M, 60-58 College Station (NIT) 1985-86 Lamar, 68-59 Houston 1988-89 A&M, 76-72 College Station Lamar, 74-67 Beaumont 1998-99 A&M, 77-69 College StationThe Coaches
Melvin Watkins (North Carolina Charlotte `77) is in his second year as head coach at Texas A&M. Watkins's first A&M team finished 12-15 last year with a 5-11 mark in Big 12 play, tying for 10th place. In three years as a college head coach, Watkins has built a 57-38 record. Prior to coming to A&M, Watkins compiled a two-year record of 42-20 at his alma mater, UNC Charlotte, leading the 49ers to consecutive 20-win seasons and NCAA Tournament berths. Prior to that, Watkins served as an assistant at UNCC from 1978-96. As a player, Watkins led UNCC to the NCAA Final Four in 1977 as the starting point guard. Behind Watkins, UNCC also advanced to the NIT finals in 1976. Watkins was a fourth-round draft pick of the NBA's Buffalo Braves in 1977.
Mike Deane (Potsdam State `74) is in his first season at Lamar. In his 16th year as a head coach, Deane is 292-161. He came to Lamar after serving five years as head coach at Marquette (1994-99) and 10 years as head coach at Siena (1986-94). Deane has led teams to eight 20+ win seasons, four NCAA Tournaments and four NITs. His 1995 Marquette team lost in the NIT title game. Dean previously served as an assistant at Michigan State from 1982-86 under Jud Heathcote.
Watkins Comments
"Anytime we go on the road within the state of Texas, we expect it to be a tough game. We also expect to get a pretty good following from our fans in the area as well. We expect a very physical game from Lamar, one in which they would like to control the tempo of the game. It's a game we expect to win if we can execute both offensively and defensively."
Rice Recap
HOUSTON (AP) - Bernard King sank a 12-foot jumper with 33 seconds left to play to nail down a 56-53 Texas A&M win over Rice on Saturday night at Compaq Center. Larry Scott led Texas A&M (3-3) with 16 points, including the first nine Aggie points. Carlton Brown grabbed seven rebounds for the Aggies. Rice (3-4) was led by Nick Robison with 16 points and Brandon Evans with 11. Ferron Morgan hauled in 10 rebounds for the Owls. Playing without four injured starters, the Owls made a determined second-half effort, chipping away at the Aggies' 11-point halftime lead throughout the second half. However, Rice was hampered by poor free-throw shooting, managing to convert on only 9-of-18 second-half free throws. Rice scored seven straight points to cut the A&M lead to 52-48 with 4:53 left. After a pair of Aggie free throws, Rice followed a free throw with a clutch 3-point shot by Adam Robinson to whittle the Owls' deficit to 54-52 with 1:17 remaining. King then drove to near the free-throw line to sink the shot that secured the victory. After that, Rice managed only a free throw from Robinson with three seconds left. Scott scored the first nine points for Texas A&M to open a 9-2 lead with 15:54 left in the first half. Rice managed to cut its deficit to 16-12 before the Aggies reeled off a 10-3 surge to take a 26-15 advantage with 6:30 left in the half. Aaron Jack sank three free throws in the final minute before the intermission to give Texas A&M a 37-26 lead at the half.
Old Foes
A&M's Melvin Watkins and Lamar's Mike Deane are highly familiar foes. Watkins built a 4-1 record against Deane's Marquette teams in Watkins' two seasons as head coach at UNC Charlotte. The only loss came in the finals of the 1997 Conference USA Tournament in St. Louis by a score of 60-52. Deane also is familiar with Texas A&M. As head coach at Siena, Deane's team upset the Aggies, 73-62, at G. Rollie White Coliseum en route to a 25-8 season and a runner-up finish in the NIT. The following season, A&M returned the favor with a 76-70 win in Albany, N.Y.
Gilchrist Shines
Freshman guard Jamaal Gilchrist scored 21 points against North Carolina A&T on Nov. 27, tying the school record for most points by a freshman in his first game. Winston Crite, who went on to one of the greatest careers in school history, also scored 21 in his freshman debut against Texas Lutheran in 1983-84. Gilchrist has started six straight games and is averaging 11.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 3.0 steals per game and is also making 82.8 percent (24-29) from the free throw line. Gilchrist ranks second in the Big 12, and is tied for 24th nationally, in steals. Among the nation's freshmen, he ranks second in steals.
No Razors Needed
In every game this season the Aggies have started at least three true freshmen and in two games, the Aggies started four true freshmen. A&M's lineup against North Texas and Stephen F. Austin marked the only time in school history that the Aggies have started an all-freshman back court and a freshman center. The Aggies started four true freshmen (off guard Bernard King, point guard Jamaal Gilchrist, small forward Larry Scott and center Andy Slocum), along with senior power forward Aaron Jack. The only other time in school history that the Aggies have started four freshmen in a game was in 1991-92, a team that went on to finish 6-22 but came within a game of winning the conference championship two seasons later. That lineup included sophomore point guard David Edwards, a Division I transfer from Georgetown.
Youngest Aggies Ever
With seven freshmen on the roster, not to mention just three returning scholarship players from last season, the 1999-2000 Aggies are the youngest team in school history. The 1978-79 and 1991-92 teams each had six freshmen. The youngest player on the team is guard Bernard King, who turned 18 on July 24. On the other end of the spectrum, the Aggies' four seniors will all be 23 by the start of the season and Paul Jacobs turns 24 on Feb. 15.
Dynamic Duo
Jamaal Gilchrist and Bernard King have started every game at the guard positions, marking only the third time in history A&M has started an all-freshman back court. In 1994-95, Kyle Kessel and Waseem Ali formed the starting backcourt as freshmen on a 14-16 team, while in 1976-77, Dave Goff and Steve Sylestine started as an all-freshman back court for a 14-14 squad. Sylestine is now head coach at San Antonio Jay, where he coached A&M junior forward Carlton Brown.
Lefties Reign
Four of the five starters against North Texas and Stephen F. Austin were left-handed - Aaron Jack, Andy Slocum, Bernard King and Jamaal Gilchrist. Every other player is a right-hander.
Did You Know
At first glance, the Aggies' non-conference schedule does not look intimidating. However, a closer look reveals that five of A&M's 11 possible non-conference opponents are ranked in the top 100 in the lastest College Basketball News Rating Percentage Index, which closely mirrors the RPI used in determining the NCAA Tournament field. This week's RPI top 100 includes Dayton (25), Tualne (44), La Salle (59), Santa Clara (61) and Lamar (100). Butler (115) narrowly missed making the top 100. Tuesday's opponent, Dayton, was ranked No. 13 in Thursday's Sagarin Ratings.
Coming Back
The Aggies rallied from a 17-point first-half deficit (23-6) to beat Virginia Commonwealth, 75-59. On Nov. 29 against North Texas, the Aggies trailed by 18 points with 12 minutes to play and rallied to within two points in the final minute before falling, 91-88. However, against Tulane, that trend reversed itself as A&M led by as many as 11 in the first half and 10 in the second half before losing in overtime, 64-60.
Making the Freebies
Just two seasons ago, Texas A&M set a dubious school record by making just 57.9 percent from the free throw line, ranking last in the Big 12. Last year, the Aggies improved to 68.9 percent, ranking third in the Big 12. Through six games this season, the Aggies are making an impressive 72.3 percent from the line, second in the Big 12. Solid free throw shooting is a trademark of Melvin Watkins-coached teams as his two squads at UNC Charlotte each led Conference USA in free throw percentage. In the last two minutes of close games (games within 10 points), the Aggies have made 11-of-15 free throws (.733). A&M has also successfully completed 7-of-10 three-point plays (.700). However, the team has struggled in one-and-one situations, making the first free throw just 4-of-11 (.364).
Defense Improves
In the first two games this season, both losses, the Aggies allowed both North Carolina A&T (.507) and North Texas (.500) to shoot better than 50 percent from the field. But in the last four games, including three wins and an overtime loss, the Aggies have held their opponents to a combined 36.5 percent. Rice (.321) and Virginia Commonwealth (.328) each made less than 33 percent from the field against the Aggies.
Better Boards
The Aggies have also improved their rebounding since the start of the year. After being out-rebounded by 16 boards (43-27) in the opener against North Carolina A&T, the Aggies have out-rebounded four of their last five opponents. Against A&T, A&M managed just five offensive boards but in the last five games has averaged 15.3.
Mr. Basketballs
Two Aggies were named Mr. Basketball in their respective states as prep seniors. Senior Jerald Brown was named Texas Mr. Basketball at Aldine High School in 1996 and freshman Bernard King was named Louisiana Mr. Basketball last spring at Gibsland-Coleman High School.
At The Half
After trailing or being tied at halftime in each of the first four games, the Aggies have led at halftime in the last two games. Against Tulane, A&M led at halftime for the first time all season (28-22) but fell in overtime, 64-60. Against Rice, the Aggies led 37-26, then held off an Owls rally for a 56-53 win. However, in those last two games, the Aggies have averaged just 20.5 second-half points.
Fresh Impact
Through six games, the Aggies' top four scorers are all newcomers, including three true freshmen. The last time a freshman led the team in scoring was forward Damon Johnson in 1991-92, when he set the A&M freshman record with a 15.6 average. The only other freshman in school history to lead the team in scoring was guard Todd Holloway with a 12.0 average in 1983-84. Through five games, freshman Bernard King leads the team with a 13.5 average, on pace to challenge Johnson's record. King is the top freshman scorer so far in the Big 12, while back court mate Jamaal Gilchrist averaged 11.3 points. King has scored in double figures in five of six games. Forward Larry Scott ranks second among the league's freshmen with an 11.7 average. Gilchrist ranks second in the league in steals (3.0) and is adding 3.8 assists. Gilchrist also ranks second overall in free throw percentage (.828) while Scott is the league's top freshmen three-point shooter, ranking fifth overall at 50.0 percent (15-of-30).
J. B. Returns
After missing the first three games with a broken bone near his right eye, senior forward Jerald Brown returned to action against Virginia Commonwealth and responded with seven points and five rebounds. More importantly, he provided heady leadership to his young teammates. Brown has played in 83 career games, starting in 69, to rank among the most experienced players in the Big 12.
Dead-Eye Jack
Through six games, senior forward/center Aaron Jack had averaged 9.2 points and 6.0 rebounds. Jack also has connected on a whopping .690 from the field to rank second in the Big 12 in field goal accuracy. Last season, Jack made 56.5 percent from the field and led the team in three-point plays with nine. Against Stephen F. Austin, Jack posted his first career double-double with 11 points and a career-high 11 rebounds.
C. Brown Impresses
Junior forward Carlton Brown posted his first career double-double against Virginia Commonwealth, scoring 12 points with a career-high 14 rebounds. Brown has scored in double figures in three games, including a career-high 24 points against North Texas. Brown played at about 80 percent against Tulane after coming down with a stomach virus. He scored just seven points against the Green Wave but hauled in a team-high eight rebounds.
Impressive Recruiter
When freshman forward Larry Scott made his official recruiting visit to the Texas A&M campus last April, he expected to meet the usual people - academic advisors, professors, coaches, etc. Instead, he met the former leader of the free world, President George Bush. The A&M coaches took Scott to lunch at a restaurant near campus and in walked the former President and his wife, Barbara. "It was totally by coincidence because he walked in and everyone was like 'What?'" Scott said. "The president just walked in. I just thought, 'Wow." Then, Bush came over to meet Scott. "He came over, shook my hand, patted me on the back and told me I should be an Aggie," Scott said,adding that Bush was not the reason he signed with A&M, but it sure didn't hurt. The George Bush Presidential Library and Museum is located on the Texas A&M campus and the Bushes are frequent visitors.
The King and Fizer
Iowa State standout Marcus Fizer is from Arcadia, La., which is located just eight miles from Bernard King's home in Gibsland. "When I was home from spring break in March, Bernard totally amazed me at how complete a player he has become," Fizer told Mike Jones of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "I've told him he's going to have to get a lot stronger physically, but I've seen him grow from someone who was just happy to be out there playing into someone who can totally dominate a game.
From Far and Wide
Texas A&M's roster includes 14 players from eight states or countries, equaling the most states represented on a roster in a school history. The 1990-91, 1991-92 and 1994-95 teams also included players from eight states or countries.
Ress Assured
Freshman forward Tomas Ress, a native of Italy, speaks four languages - Italian, German, English and Spanish. He learned English and Spanish last year while attending high school in Florida. As a native of the tiny village of Pochi in the Italian province of Bolanzo, located near the border of Austria, Ress is fluent in German and Italian.
Sizing 'Em Up
The 1999-2000 Aggies may be the largest in school history in terms of both height and weight. Five players are at least 6-9 and eight are at least 6-8. In addition, three players weight in excess of 250 pounds and five tip the scales at more than 240 pounds. Freshmen Andy Slocum and Tomas Ress each wear a size 18 shoe. The only other player in recent history to wear a size 18 was Brad Stricker (1995-97). Freshman Larry Jackson (265) and sophomore Keith Bean (273) are the two heaviest players in school history. Shedrick Anderson (1990-92) also weighed in at 265. Of the veterans, Paul Jacobs put on the most muscle in the off-season, gaining 13 pounds to tip the scales at 225. Aaron Jack weighs in at 243, eight pounds above his playing weight last season.
Looking Ahead
After playing Lamar on Saturday in Beaumont, the Aggies meet undefeated Dayton on Tuesday in Dayton, Ohio before taking a break for the holidays. The schedule resumes on Dec. 29-20 at the Cable Car Classic in Santa Clara, Calif. The Aggies meet Santa Clare in the first round on Dec. 29 and will play either La Salle or Butler on Dec. 30.