November 26, 2002
Antoine Wright scored a game-high 25 points for Texas A&M, but missed three shots in the final minute as Miami held on to beat the Aggies, 78-72, on Tuesday.
Wright had completed a four-point play with 1:32 remaining to give Texas A&M a 72-71 lead. James Jones hit a jumper, Michael Simmons hit two free throws and Jones made one of two for the Hurricanes (2-0), while Wright misfired on two 3-pointers and a desperation jumper.
Jones led Miami with 14 points and four rebounds. Simmons scored just three points, but redeemed himself after fouling Wright on his 3-pointer. Wright converted 6-of-11 3-pointers.
With 8:01 remaining, Marcus Watkins hit two free throws to give the Aggies (1-1) a 57-56 lead--their first of the game.
The Hurricanes had outscored the Aggies 13-6 in the first 6:12 minutes of the second half to take an 11-point lead.
But Texas A&M came right back with an 11-2 run and cut Miami's lead to two. In the first half, Wright, who had just eight points in the Aggies' season opener, exceeded that total with three 3-pointers during a 1:08 span.
Ishmael N'Diaye, who played just ten minutes in Miami's season opener, scored eight of the Hurricanes' final nine points before halftime.