March 13, 2005
The Texas A&M men's basketball team will play host to Clemson as part of a National Invitation Tournament double-header on Wednesday at Reed Arena. The A&M women will play Tulsa in a National Women's Invitation Tournament game at 5 p.m., followed by the men's game at 7:30 p.m. One ticket will cover admission to both games.
Comprised of 40 teams, the men's NIT will have its semifinals and final on March 29-31 at New York City's Madison Square Garden. The winner of the A&M-Clemson game will play the winner of the DePaul-Missouri game at a site and date to be determined.
"We're excited about playing and look forward to playing a really good team in Clemson," said A&M coach Billy Gillispie, the 2005 Big 12 Coach of the Year.
Making its first postseason appearance in 11 years, A&M is 19-9 and finished seventh in the Big 12 with an 8-8 mark in Gillispie's first season. The Aggies' 12-win improvement from last season ties San Diego as the most improved team in the nation.
Clemson finished 16-15 and placed ninth in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a 5-11 mark. The Tigers lead the series with A&M, 2-1. The teams last met in 1996-97, with Clemson posting a 76-64 victory in College Station.
"We're just happy to still be playing," said junior Antoine Wright, a first-team All-Big 12 pick this season. "It should be a good game. We'll play hard and try to get a win."
The Aggies' last postseason appearance came in 1994, when they lost in the first round of the NIT at the University of New Orleans, 79-73, in overtime.
The only other time A&M has played host to an NIT game was in 1982, when the Aggies beat Lamar, 60-58, in the first round. A&M went on to beat Washington, 69-65, in Seattle, before losing in the third round to Purdue, 86-68, in West Lafayette, Ind.
A&M has posted a 4-5 record in five previous NIT appearances. The Aggies also advanced to the third round in 1979, but were eliminated in the first round in 1985, 1986 and 1994.
The first 1,000 students to pull their tickets at the Kyle Field Ticket Office only will receive a free ticket courtesy of Saturn. All students must have a valid A&M Student ID. They do not need a sports pass.
General public and student tickets go on sale on Monday at the outside windows of the A&M Ticket Office beginning at 8 a.m. and at the Reed Arena Box Office at 10 a.m. Both ticket locations close at 5 p.m.
Student tickets are $4 and student guest tickets are $15. Students must also show their student ID to enter Reed Arena. University policy prevents students from bringing another student's ID. Students must pull their own ticket.
General public tickets are $20 courtside, $15 mezzanine, $10 balcony and $8 gallery. All ticket prices are set by the NIT and WNIT.