November 23, 2003
The Texas A&M men's basketball team opens its 2003-04 season against the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions on Monday at 7 p.m. at Reed Arena.
The Aggies won both of their exhibition games, beating Team ezybonds, 98-82, on Nov. 12 and downing the EA Sports Midwest All-Stars, 103-98, on Nov. 17. The Golden Lions are 0-1 after opening their season with a 63-40 loss to Air Force on Saturday in USAF Academy, Colo.
"We are all excited about finally opening our season," said A&M coach Melvin Watkins, who is 3-2 in season openers and 4-1 in home openers at A&M. "The players have been working hard and I thought we learned a lot in our two exhibition games.
"We expect Pine Bluff to press and try to take us out of our offense," Watkins added. "With their defensive traps, we need to be able to handle the ball well, be patient and look for the best available shot."
Arkansas-Pine Bluff finished 4-24 last season in its first season under coach Van Holt and finished 10th in the Southwestern Athletic Conference with a 4-14 mark.
The Golden Lions are led by senior guard Chris Parker (6-5), who averaged 8.0 points last season but scored only four points after making just one of eight shots from the field against Air Force. Senior guard Brandon Jones (6-1) was UAPB's only player to score in double figures in the opener, chipping in 12 points.
After having just two players average in double figures scoring last season, the Aggies are hoping for more balance. In the exhibition games, five Aggies averaged in double figures, led by sophomore forward Antoine Wright (6-7) 19.0 average.
Freshman guard Acie Law (6-3) added 13.0 points, followed by senior center Andy Slocum (7-0) at 12.5, senior guard Leandro Garcia-Morales (6-1) with 12.0 and senior forward Jesse King (6-7) with 10.0. Slocum contributed a team-best 10.5 rebounds, while Wright and King averaged 7.5.
The Prairie View A&M Band will perform at Monday's game and will make a return appearance for Wednesday's game against Alabama A&M.
The game will be broadcast on radio by the Texas A&M Sports Network (KAGG-FM, 96.1 in the Brazos Valley) and can also be heard via the internet (www.AggieAthletics.com) with Dave South on play-by-play and Al Pulliam on commentary.
Tickets are $6 for gallery section seats, $10 for balcony seats, $12 for mezzanine seats and $15 for courtside seats (if available). Tickets can be purchased through the A&M Athletic Ticket Office (979-845-2311) or the Reed Arena Ticket Office (979-862-7333).
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TENTATIVE STARTERS
Texas A&M Aggies (0-0)
G-#30 Bobby Leach 6-0 Jr-Tr 5.5 ppg/5.0 apg
G-#10 Leandro Garcia-Morales 6-1 Sr-1L 12.0 ppg/5.0 apg
F-#21 Antoine Wright 6-7 So-1L 19.0 ppg/7.5 rpg
F-#3 Jesse King III 6-7 Sr-3L 10.0 ppg/7.5rpg
C-#50 Andy Slocum 7-0 Sr-3L 12.5 ppg/10.5 rpg
(Stats are from two exhibition games)
Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions (0-1)
G-#15 Michael Kendrick 5-11 Jr. 0.0 ppg/2.0 rpg
G-#10 Lee Curry 6-1 Sr. 6.0 ppg/2.0 rpg
G-#30 Chris Parker 6-5 Sr. 4.0 ppg/0.0 rpg
F-#24 Justin Lloyd 6-7 Sr. 8.0 ppg/5.0 rpg
F-#50 Cortney Lee 6-10 Jr. 0.0 ppg/1.0 rpg