November 19, 2005
The Texas A&M men?â„¢s basketball team makes its regular-season debut on Sunday against the Southern Jaguars at 7 p.m. at Reed Arena.
Tickets are available for $17 (mezzanine), $15 (balcony) and $6 (gallery) and can be purchased at the Reed Arena Box Office or online at www.12thManFoundation.com.
The ?Aggie Tip-Off Party?, featuring free pizza, live music, face painting and games will be from 5-6:30 p.m. between the main entrance and the student entrance.
A&M returns four starters from last year?â„¢s team that finished 21-10 overall and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NIT in Coach Billy Gillispie?â„¢s first season. The Aggies were the nation?â„¢s most improved team, winning 14 more games than the previous year.
?As a coach, I?â„¢d like to have a few more weeks to practice because there are so many things we need to improve,? said Gillispie, the 2005 Big 12 Coach of the Year. ?But we?â„¢re excited about getting our season started. Southern has some outstanding, experienced players and will provide a strong challenge for us. We know we have to give our best effort.?
The Aggies are led by sophomore Joseph Jones (6-9), an honorable mention All-Big 12 pick last season who averaged 30.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in exhibition victories against Arkansas Tech (96-49) and Texas A&M-Commerce (110-77). Junior Acie Law (6-3) also earned All-Big 12 honors last season and averaged 17.5 points in the exhibition games.
Sophomore Dominique Kirk (6-3) and senior Chris Walker (6-5) are the other returning starters. Kirk started every game as a freshman and Walker, a non-scholarship player, worked his way into the lineup at midseason. Walker suffered an injury last summer and is doubtful for the opener.
Southern already is 0-3 this season and is coming off an 84-56 loss to crosstown rival LSU on Friday night in Baton Rouge. The Jaguars opened their season earlier in the week in Austin in the preliminary rounds of the Guardians Classic. Southern fell to No. 2-ranked Texas, 89-56, on Tuesday, then lost an overtime battle to Sacramento State, 67-64, on Wednesday.
Members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, the Jaguars are in their first season under Coach Rob Spivery, who came to the school after nine years at Alabama State. Southern was picked to finish sixth in the SWAC in a preseason coaches poll.
Southern is led by senior Peter Cipriano, a 6-9 forward who was a preseason first-team All-SWAC pick. Cipriano posted a double-double in the opener against Texas, scoring 14 points with 10 rebounds. Senior guard Chris Alexander (6-1) led the team in scoring last season with a 14.5 average.
A&M was 17-3 at home last year, a school record for home victories that tied for the second most in the country. The Aggies have won 13 straight non-conference games, including 12 straight at home, and has won four straight season openers.
A&M is 23-1 against SWAC teams, but is tied with Southern, 1-1. The Jaguars posted a 92-68 win against the Aggies in Baton Rouge the last time the teams met in 1998-99. A&M defeated Southern, 80-67, at G. Rollie White Coliseum in 1997-98.
The game opens a busy opening week for the Aggies, who also play host to Mississippi Valley State on Tuesday night before meeting Tulane in Saturday?â„¢s ?Hurricane Katrina Relief? game at Reed Arena. Both games tip-off at 7 p.m.