Texas A&M at Long Beach State
Dec 20, 2000 | Men's Basketball
December 20, 2000
Game #8
Texas A&M Aggies (3-4)
vs.
Long Beach State 49ers (6-4)
Friday, Dec. 22, 2000
7:35 p.m. (PST)/9:35 p.m. (CST)
The Pyramid (5,000 cap.)
Long Beach, Calif.
Radio
Texas A&M Radio Network (Regional)
Dave South, Play-by-Play
Al Pulliam, Commentary
Airtime: 9:10 p.m. (CST)
Television
None
TALE OF THE TAPE
Statistic A&M LBSU
W-L Record 3-4 6-4
ESPN/USA Today -- --
Associated Press -- --
Sagarin Rating #220 #203
RPI #186 #152
Scoring 76.1 76.4
Opp. Scoring 76.7 77.5
Scoring Margin -0.6 -1.1
FG Pct. .444 .464
Opp. FG Pct. .434 .498
3-Pt. Pct. .323 .384
Opp. 3-Pt. Pct. .329 .453
3-Pt. FG 5.9 7.1
Opp. 3-Pt. FG 7.3 8.2
FT Pct. .693 .646
Opp FT Pct. .667 .658
Off. Reb. 14.7 13.2
Total Rebounds 41.6 34.4
Reb. Margin +6.7 -0.5
Assists 14.6 14.0
Turnovers 19.4 15.9
Blocks 1.9 2.7
Steals 5.7 10.0
Fouls 22.6 19.3
After taking a 13-day break for final examinations, the Texas A&M Aggies (3-4) begin a 10-day road trip when they play the Long Beach State 49ers (6-4) Friday at 7:35 p.m. (PST)/9:35 p.m. (CST) at The Pyramid (5,000 cap.) in Long Beach, Calif. The Aggies last played on Dec. 9, falling to No. 12-ranked North Carolina, 82-60, in Houston. After playing the 49ers, the Aggies travel to Honolulu, Hawaii for the Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic Dec. 27-30. The 49ers are coming off a 57-54 road victory against Loyola Marymount on Monday in Los Angeles.
About the 49ers
Long Beach State returns three starters and five lettermen from last year's team that finished 24-6 overall and won the Western Division title in the Big West Conference with a 15-1 mark. The 49ers advanced to the NIT and fell in the first round to California, 70-66. Long Beach State is 6-4 this season. The 49ers are led by senior guard Ramel Lloyd (6-4), a second-team All-Big West pick last year who is averaging 20.4 points per game. Lloyd ranks among the top 10 scorers in Long Beach State history. Junior center Travis Reed is adding 11.2 points and 7.2 rebounds, while junior forward Lemi Williams (6-6) is contributing 15.6 points per contest. Other projected starters are senior forward Grant Stone (6-8) and junior guard Michael Darrett (6-2). The 49ers are in their fifth season under head coach Wayne Morgan, who has built a 66-58 record. Before taking the Long Beach State job in 1996, Morgan served 12 years as an assistant coach at Syracuse under Jim Boeheim.
A&M-LBSU Series
Friday's game marks the first meeting between the schools. The Aggies are 14-14 all-time against current members of the Big West Conference, including a 77-74 victory against North Texas on Nov. 20. Long Beach State is 16-21 against members of the Big 12 Conference. The 49ers last met a Big 12 team last season, beating Kansas State, 70-64, in Manhattan, Kan.
Watkins Quoteboard
"Long Beach State is a good basketball team. We look for it to be a very challenging game for us on their home floor. They return three starters from a team that won 24 games and went to postseason last year. Like us, they have had some injuries this season that somewhat changed the complexion of their team, but they are still one of the top teams in the Big West Conference. We're anxious to get back on the playing floor. It's been a long layoff and you're always concerned about coming back rusty. But we've had some good practices and hopefully we've had time to allow some bodies to heal."
Probable Starters
TEXAS A&M AGGIES (3-4)
# Player Pos. Ht. Cl. ppg rpg
4 Jamaal Gilchrist G 6-0 So. 8.3 2.7a
32 Bernard King G 6-5 So. 18.1 4.4a
24 Carlton Brown F 6-6 Sr. 14.9 7.6
5 Nick Anderson F 6-6 Fr. 7.4 6.1
2 Keith Bean F 6-8 So. 8.3 4.3
TEXAS A&M INJURIES: KEITH BEAN, soph forward: bruised right foot (probable); BRIAN BROOKHART, soph. forward: strained right hamstring (probable); JAMAAL GILCHRIST, soph. guard: hyperextended right thumb (probable); AARON JACK, senior forward: sprained right ankle (questionable); TOMAS RESS, soph. forward: undetermined illness (will not play); LARRY SCOTT, soph. guard: sprained right ankle (probable); ANDY SLOCUM, soph. center: right shoulder surgery (will not play).
LONG BEACH STATE 49ERS (6-4)
# Player Pos. Ht. Cl. ppg rpg
23 Michael Darrett G 6-2 Jr. 6.1 3.7a
22 Ramel Lloyd G 6-4 Sr. 20.4 3.5
34 Lemi Williams F 6-6 Jr. 14.6 3.8
15 Grant Stone F 6-8 Sr. 4.9 7.1
13 Travis Reed C 6-8 Jr. 11.4 7.1
Head Coaches
TEXAS A&M: Melvin Watkins (UNC Charlotte '77)
23-38, 3rd year at A&M
65-58, 5th year overall
0-0 vs. Wayne Morgan
0-0 vs. Long Beach St.
LONG BEACH STATE: Wayne Morgan (St. Lawrence '73)
66-58 in 5th year at LBSU
66-58 in 5th year overall
0-0 vs. Melvin Watkins
0-0 vs. Texas A&M
North Carolina Recap
HOUSTON (AP, Dec. 9)-- Joseph Forte scored 17 of his 23 points in the second half, and Jason Capel had 11 points and career highs with seven assists, three blocks and four steals to help No. 12 North Carolina beat Texas A&M 82-60 on Saturday night. North Carolina (5-2) led 33-26 at the half and used an 8-0 run to start the second half to take charge. Center Brendan Haywood finished the first half with three fouls and picked up his fourth with 9:30 left in the game and the Tar Heels leading 53-39. From that point, Capel and Forte combined for 10 straight Tar Heels points u six by Capel and four by Forte u and the Aggies (3-3) never made another charge. The Tar Heels had 14 steals and six blocked shots. Haywood finished with 17 points and Kris Lange 12. North Carolina couldn't pull away in the first half despite poor first-half shooting by the Aggies. Texas A&M hit only 28 percent of its shots, and leading scorer Bernard King was 0-for-4 with 7:42 to go in the half and the Tar Heels leading 23-15. North Carolina increased its lead to 29-19 with 4:24 left in the half on a basket by Haywood, but the Aggies stayed close at the half. King finished with 25 points. Carlton Brown had 16 points to lead Texas A&M.
Going Home
For a pair of Aggies, Saturday's game will be a homecoming. Sophomores Keith Bean and Larry Scott are both from Southern California, although each graduated from prep schools on the East Coast. Bean played at Fontana High School as a sophomore in 1995-96 before finishing his prep career with two years at Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield, Maine. Scott played at Rancho Cucamonga High School before finishing at St. James School in St. James, Md. Each players' parents now live in Rancho Cucamonga. Scott was born in San Bernardino while teammate Andy Leatherman was born in Los Angeles.
Familiar Faces
The starting post players in Friday's game should know each others moves well enough. A&M's Keith Bean and the 49ers' Travis Reed are distant cousins who both grew up in Fontana, Calif. Bean attended Fontana High School as a freshman and sophomore and Reed graduated from A.B. Miller High School. Although they never met in a high school game, Bean says the pair have squared off many times in summer league and pickup games.
A Hawaiian Christmas
After playing Long Beach State on Friday, the Aggies will travel to Honolulu, Hawaii on Sunday to begin preparations for the Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic Dec. 27-30. The Aggies will spend Christmas night at a luau sponsored for all eight teams competing in the tournament. The Aggies meet St. Louis in the first round on Dec. 27 and either Manhattan or Hawaii in the second round on Dec. 29. Also participating in the tournament are No. 4-ranked Tennessee, No. 19-ranked Iowa, Detroit and George Washington. The Aggies will return home early on New Year's Day and will actually be in flight to bring in the new year.
California Here We Come Again
The Aggies last played in California last season, finishing third in the Cable Car Classic in Santa Clara. After falling to Santa Clara, 60-48, in the opener, A&M trimmed LaSalle, 70-69, on a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Bernard King to claim third place.
Quick Notes
The Aggies (22) Combined with Virginia Commonwealth (23) on Dec. 2 to set an NCAA record for points in one overtime period with 45. The old record was 41 set in 1997-98 by Vermont (26) and Hartford (15).
After being out-rebounded by George Washington, 36-33, in the opener, A&M has out-rebounded five of its last six opponents, posting an average margin of +8.3 in that stretch.
The Aggies are averaging 16.2 offensive boards in the last six games after having just six in the opener against George Washington.
Bernard King's eight three-pointers against Lamar tied the school record. His six treys in the second half tied a Big 12 record.
After starting the season solid from the free throw line (73.0 percent through five games), the Aggies have made just 58.0 percent (29-50) in the last two games.
The Aggies have had at least 20 turnovers in five of seven games this season and are 1-4 in those games.
The Aggies are 0-3 this season when they have fewer than 53 field goal attempts.
Who's Hot?
In the last two games, Bernard King has averaged 27.5 points, 3.0 steals and 6.5 three-point field goals per game.. King has made 15 of his last 22 three-point attempts since the second overtime of the VCU game. Earlier in the VCU game, he had missed his 19th straight.
In the last three games, Carlton Brown has averaged 18.3 points and 11.3 rebounds, including a pair of double-doubles.
Sophomore Keith Bean has scored in double figures in three of the last four games, averaging 10.0 points and 4.5 rebounds in that span.
Aaron Jack in the last five games has averaged 8.5 rebounds, posting at least eight boards in all five games.
Bouncing Back
After falling to Birmingham Southern, 74-54, on Nov. 26 in what coach Melvin Watkins said was the "most embarrassing" loss of his career, Watkins called a 5:30 a.m. practice the next morning. The entire team showed up, but rather than practice, spent two hours watching and dissecting the game film. The Aggies responded with a 79-46 victory against Morris Brown, the largest margin of victory in Watkins' five years as a college head coach. Since the loss to Birmingham Southern, the Aggies are 2-2, including wins of 33 and 23 points, a road loss to Virginia Commonwealth (107-106 in double overtime) and a neutral site loss to No. 12-ranked North Carolina (82-60).
J. King Joins Team
Freshman guard/forward Jesse King gained his eligibility and began practicing with the team on Sunday. The 6-7, 216-pounder from Detroit, Mich. (Pershing HS) will have 3 + years of eligibility remaining. King played at Winchendon (Mass.) School last year, averaging 18.1 points and 13.0 rebounds per game. In high school, he earned all-state honors and was rated among the top 10 players in Michigan after averaging 19.3 points, 11.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. Midwest Hoops compared King to former Pershing standout Steve Smith, now with the NBA's Atlanta Hawks. A tremendous all-around athlete, King could make his debut against Long Beach State on Friday.
B. King Rises Again
Sophomore guard Bernard King, the 2000 Big 12 Freshman of the Year and a preseason All-Big 12 selection, leads the team in scoring with a 18.1average and has overcome a severe early-season shooting slump. Through the first four games, King had made just 2-of-20 three-pointers (.100) and was averaging just 12.5 points per game. But in the last four games, King has connected on 17-of-32 (.531), averaging 25.7 points in those three contests. Against Lamar, King scored a season-high 30 points in just 27 minutes (his fourth career 30+ game) and tied the school record with eight three-pointers (11 att.). His six treys in the second half tied the Big 12 record. King also leads the team in assists (4.4). Since the Aggies' wake-up call against Birmingham Southern on Nov. 26 (a 74-54 loss), King has averaged 22.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 4.3 three-point field goals per game.
Mr. Bean
Sophomore Keith Bean, a transfer from North Carolina State who sat out last season, scored 11 points with five rebounds in the loss to North Carolina. Bean has scored in double figures in three of the last four games, averaging 10.0 points and 4.5 rebounds while making 51.7 percent from the field in that stretch. Bean has started all seven games, averaging 8.3 points and 4.3 rebounds. Bean emerged in the second half of the Virginia Commonwealth game, finishing with a career-high 17 points, making 5-of-9 from the field and 7-of-7 from the line.
Leatherman Warms Up
Junior guard Andy Leatherman, a former walk-on who was put on scholarship this season, scored a career-high 16 points against Birmingham Southern, then followed with a team-high 15 points against Morris Brown. His 10 three-pointers this year already surpasses his season total in 23 games last year (8-43, .186). He scored just three points against Lamar, but handed out a career-high six assists. For the season. Leatherman is averaging 6.7 points and 2.3 assists per game.
St. Nick Gets Jolly
Freshman Nick Anderson, one of the most heralded Texas A&M basketball recruits in many years, ranks third on the team in rebounding with a 6.1 average, leads in blocked shots at 1.0, and ranks fifth in scoring at 7.4. A 2000 Parade High School All-American, Anderson has started in all seven games and posted four double-figures scoring games. Against Virginia Commonwealth, Anderson posted his first career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. He followed with a career-high 14 points and six boards against Lamar. Anderson was the preseason choice for Big 12 Freshman of the Year by the league's coaches and media.
Brown Asserts Himself
Forward Carlton Brown is off to a spectacular senior season, leading the team in rebounding (7.6), field goal percentage (.607) and free throw percentage (.806) and ranking second in scoring (14.9). As a junior college transfer last season, Brown averaged just 6.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. Against Virginia Commonwealth, Brown scored a season-high 20 points with a career-high 18 rebounds, tying for the 13th most in school history (and the most by an Aggie in six years). He has started in all seven games, scoring in double figures six times. In the last three games, Brown has averaged 18.3 points and 11.7 rebounds while making 60.6 (20-33) percent from the field.
Jack Comes Back
After receiving an additional year of eligibility from the NCAA last spring, senior forward Aaron Jack, an honorable mention All-Big 12 pick last season, saw his extra year jeopardized when he sustained a concussion in practice on Oct. 18. Jack suffered three concussions as a freshman at Penn State in 1995-96, then transferred to A&M. Jack returned to practice on a limited basis in early November, then returned full time the day before the opener at George Washington. He has played in all seven games, averaging 6.3 points and 7.3 rebounds while making 55.2 percent from the field. He has grabbed at least eight rebounds in five straight games, including a game-high nine against North Carolina, averaging 8.4 rebounds in that span. Jack has played in 83 games as a collegian, including four as a freshman at Penn State in 1995-96. With 456 career rebounds at A&M (469 in his college career), Jack needs 44 more to become the 17th player in A&M history to reach 500, and only the second since 1987. However, Jack suffered a severe ankle sprain against North Carolina and missed more than a week of practice before returning on Tuesday. He is listed as questionable for Long Beach State.
Jamaal Fights Slump
Sophomore point guard Jamaal Gilchrist, who started all 28 games last season as a true freshman, is averaging 8.3 points and 2.7 assists while making 76.1 percent from the free throw line (35-46). Gilchrist scored 12 points in each of the first two games, then against Virginia Commonwealth, he scored a season-high 15 points, making 11-of-12 from the free throw line, including two with 2.9 seconds left to send the game into overtime. But in the last two games, Gilchrist has averaged just 3.5 points, making 2-of-15 (.133) from the field, 0-of-6 from three-point range and 3-of-7 (.429) from the free throw line.
Jamaal Fights Slump
The sophomore guard tandem of Jamaal Gilchrist and Bernard King is one of the best in the country. The pair have started in the same backcourt in 34 of the last 35 games. This season, the duo has combined for an average of 26.4 points, 7.1 assists and 7.1 rebounds per game.
Cleaning the Glass
After being out-rebounded, 36-33, in the opener against George Washington, A&M has out-boarded five of its last six opponents by an average margin of +8.3. The +17 margin against Virginia Commonwealth (54-37) was A&M's best in three years. The Aggies have grabbed 50 or more rebounds in two games. A&M grabbed just six offensive rebounds in the opener, but in the five games since has averaged 16.2 offensive boards per game. Meanwhile, after GW posted 15 offensive rebounds in the opener, the Aggies have allowed their opponents just 12.2 offensive boards in the last six games. A&M had out-rebounded five straight opponents going into the North Carolina game and held their own against the bigger Tar Heels (which started frontline players of 7-0 and 6-11), who posted a narrow 36-35 edge.
Slocum Out
Sophomore center Andy Slocum, who started in 14 games as a freshman, will likely miss the entire season after undergoing surgery (two screws were inserted) in his left shoulder. Slocum injured the shoulder while lifting weights last summer and was limited in fall practice as a result. Coach Melvin Watkins said Slocum likely will redshirt this season. As a freshman, Slocum averaged 4.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per game.
Scott Could Return for 49ers
Sophomore guard Larry Scott suffered a severely sprained left ankle in practice on Nov. 28 and has missed the last three games. He returned to practice on Sunday and could return to action against Long Beach State. Scott is averaging 4.0 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.
Ress Out Again
Sophomore forward Tomas Ress, who was hospitalized for more than a week in late October with a staph infection, returned to the hospital last week for additional tests after becoming ill. Ress played briefly against Morris Brown and Virginia Commonwealth, but complained of weakness. His status is listed as day-by-day, but he will not play against Long Beach State. As a freshman, Ress started in 12 games and averaged 4.6 points, including a career-high 22 points against Missouri.
Improved Charity
When Melvin Watkins arrived as A&M's head coach in 1998, one of the Aggies greatest weaknesses was their free throw shooting. In 1997-98, the Aggies set a school record for the worst free throw percentage in school history, making just 57.9 percent to finish last in the Big 12. In 1998-99, the Aggies improved to 68.9 percent, third in the conference, and last year made 67.0 percent to rank seventh in the league. Through seven games this season, the Aggies are making 69.3 percent. Through five games, the Aggies were making 73.0 percent, but in the last two games have been in a slump, making just 58.0 percent (29-50). Watkins' two teams at North Carolina Charlotte each led Conference USA in free throw percentage.
Recruiting Buzz
In 1999, Texas A&M's Melvin Watkins' first full recruiting class was ranked as high as No. 14 nationally by Bob Gibbons' All-Star Report, which called the haul a "recruiting bonanza." The top rated player in the class, Bernard King, was rated by Gibbons as the 33rd best prospect in the country while Andy Slocum was rated No. 94. The Sporting News rated Jamaal Gilchrist as one of the top 30 point guards in the nation while Gibbons called him "a playmaker supreme." Watkins' 2000 class has drawn similar accolades, earning a No. 18 national ranking by Basketball Times. The class was led by Nick Anderson, a consensus national top 50 prospect who was rated as high as No. 18 by The Sporting News. Meanwhile, Nolan Butterfras was ranked as high as No. 86 by Recruiting Beat while Keith Bean, a transfer from North Carolina State, was ranked as the nation's 33rd best prospect by Gibbons in 1998. A total of five Aggies were rated as national top 100 players in high school. "One of the big stories of the fall has been the success of Texas A&M in recruiting big-time, national top 100 caliber prospects. Watkins...has proved that he can entice blue-chippers to A&M," said The Sporting News.
Bryan's Mason Signs Early
In the November early signing period, coach Melvin Watkins added another outstanding recruit to the impressive array of young talent he has assembled at A&M when Bryan (Texas) High School's Daryl Mason, a 6-6 guard, signed with the Aggies. As a prep junior, Mason averaged 18.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists. He is rated as the 14th best prospect by Texas Hoops.
Youngest Aggies
With seven freshmen on the roster, last year's Aggies were the youngest team in school history. At least three, and sometimes four, true freshmen started in every game. The 1978-79 and 1991-92 teams each had six freshmen. The 2000-01 Aggies will still be one of the youngest teams in college basketball with just two seniors, one junior, seven sophomores and three freshmen. The Aggies have started three sophomores, one freshman and one senior in every game this season.
Leftist Rebels
Last year, the Aggies started four left-handed players -- Bernard King, Jamaal Gilchrist, Aaron Jack and Andy Slocum. Every other player on the team was a right-hander. King and Gilchrist were the only all-leftie backcourt in A&M history. The team added another left-hander this season with freshman Nolan Butterfras.
