December 26, 2005
Unbeaten Texas A&M plays host to Texas Southern on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Reed Arena.
Game #9
TEXAS A&M AGGIES (8-0)
vs.
TEXAS SOUTHERN TIGERS (2-9)
Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2005
7 p.m. (Central)
Reed Arena (12,500 cap.)
College Station, Texas
TELEVISION
No Live TV
Postgame Highlights Feed
9:45-10 p.m. (Central)
Coordinates: SBS 6, TR 9 (KU-Band)
RADIO
Texas A&M Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Dave South
Analyst: Al Pulliam
Sirius Satellite Radio: n/a
MEDIA RELATIONS CONTACTS
Texas Southern: Rodney Bush
713-826-8229 (cell)
Texas A&M: Colin Killian
979-229-4706 (cell)
TEXAS A&M AGGIES
Record: 8-0
Ranking: Receiving (8) Votes (coaches poll)
Last Game: Beat Auburn (72-67) on Thursday
Coach: Billy Gillispie (Texas State ?'83)
Record: 59-42 (4th year)
at A&M: 29-10 (2nd year)
vs. Texas Southern: 0-0
Tentative Starters
No. Name Ht. Wt. Class PPG RPG APG
1 Acie Law IV 6-3 185 Jr. 15.0 2.7 3.1
12 Eddie Smith 6-2 185 Sr. 6.1 2.4 4.0
22 Dominique Kirk 6-3 180 Sr. 7.6 3.9 3.3
42 Marlon Pompey 6-8 225 Jr. 7.4 3.1 1.5blk
30 Joseph Jones 6-9 250 So. 16.6 6.1 .643FG
TEXAS SOUTHERN TIGERS
Record: 2-9
Ranking: Unranked
Last Game: Lost at Rice (81-65) on Wednesday
Coach: Ronnie Courtney (McMurry ?'81)
Record: 56-69 (5th year)
at TSU: 56-69 (5th year)
vs. Texas A&M : 0-1
Tentative Starters
No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Class PPG RPG APG
12 Sean Walker G 6-3 180 Sr. 16.2 4.0 3.2
20 Ike Count G 6-3 180 Jr. 8.9 3.8 1.2
23 Curtis Smith G 6-6 190 Fr. 6.5 2.5 0.8
15 Jacques Jones F 6-7 200 So. 9.1 5.0 1.5
0 Christopher Moore F 6-8 210 Jr., 8.6 5.7 1.6
Game Notes
* Half-price tickets for all men?â„¢s and women?â„¢s home games through Jan. 4 are available.
* A&M has won 21 straight regular-season non-conference games and also has won 21 straight at home.
* A&M is 8-0 at home this season and is 25-3 at home in the last two seasons. Texas Southern is 0-8 on the road.
* Texas Southern is A&M?â„¢s fourth straight opponent nicknamed ?Tigers.? After playing the Northwestern State Demons on Jan. 31, the Aggies play the Pacific Tigers on Jan. 3.
About Texas Southern
Location: Houston
Enrollment: 11,635
Affiliation: NCAA Division I
Conference: Southwestern Athletic (SWAC)
Colors: Maroon and Gray
Head Coach: Ronnie Courtney
Record at School: 56-69 (5th year)
Overall Record: 56-69 (5th year)
2004-05 Record (Conference): 11-15 (9-9, 7th)
2005 Postseason: none
* TSU coach Ronnie Courtney is married to A&M assistant coach Alvin Brooks?â„¢ niece, Michele.
* Courtney led the Tigers to the SWAC Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament berth in 2003.
* Before taking the TSU job, Courtney was head coach at Ford Bend Willowridge High School, where he led the team to consecutive Class 5A state titles. He was named national prep coach of the year in 2001 by USA Today.
* Players on his Willowridge teams included T.J. Ford (Texas), Ivan McFarland (Oklahoma State), Kenny Taylor (Baylor and Texas) and Daniel Ewing (Duke).
* TSU is coming off an 81-65 loss at Rice last Wednesday.
* The Tigers?â„¢ schedule to this point is rated as the nation?â„¢s fifth toughest by the Sagarin Ratings. TSU has played road games at Illinois, Wichita State, UT-Pan American, Connecticut, UTEP, Florida State, Boston College and Rice.
* TSU?â„¢s lone victories have both come at home against Jarvis Christian (100-66) and Maine at Machias (105-60), a pair of NAIA teams.
* Senior guard Sean Walker (6-3), leads the Tigers in scoring with a 16.2 average and is making 50.0 percent (19-38) from three-point range.
* Walker is the only TSU player averaging in double figures.
* Junior forward Christopher Moore (6-8) leads the team in rebounding with 5.7 per game.
Series Notes
* A&M leads the series, 8-0, with a 7-0 advantage in College Station and a 1-0 mark at a neutral site.
* The teams last met in 2002-03, with the Aggies posting with a 70-55 victory at Reed Arena.
* A&M is 26-1 against teams from the Southwestern Athletic Conference and has won 12 straight.
Coach Gillispie Comments
?Auburn was a good win for us, but that?â„¢s about it. We didn?â„¢t play as smart as we could have. Joseph Jones had one shot in the first half, and that?â„¢s not a very good solution for us. We have a lot of things to work on, but I?â„¢m happy with the win. We aren?â„¢t a team that can survive with just a third guy stepping up. We?â„¢re going to need a fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh. We need to try to get better like everyone else. We didn?â„¢t play any team defense against Auburn. We got out to a lead by playing good defense, but they started to beat us off the dribble and gave themselves a chance. We?â„¢ve got a bunch of guys who will play hard every day. They compete hard and will continue to get better. We?â„¢re going to have more people get better. If we play hard, play smart and play together, we?â„¢ve got a chance.?
Auburn Recap
COLLEGE STATION (AP) - Joseph Jones scored a game-high 24 points as Texas A&M remained undefeated with a 72-67 victory over Auburn Thursday night. A&M (8-0) built a 21-10 lead midway through the first half. But Auburn fought back with a 16-5 run led by Rasheem Barrett to tie the score with four minutes remaining before halftime. Auburn committed 14 fouls in the first half, while A&M shot below 35 percent. The Aggies started the second half with a quick 12-5 run and held Auburn for six minutes without a field goal. Auburn?â„¢s Ronny LaMelle nailed back-to-back 3-pointers to keep the Tigers in the game. Frank Tolbert led scoring for Auburn with 15, while LaMelle had 14, including 10 in the second half, and Quantez Robertson scored 10. Acie Law scored 19 points for the Aggies, and Kenneth White came off the bench to add 10. Jones returned after missing one game with an ankle injury. It was also Law?â„¢s first game back after suffering a concussion on Dec. 10.
Who?â„¢s Hot?
* Junior Acie Law came back from a concussion to score 19 points in the win against Auburn, including 13 ion the second half. Law is one of only two Big 12 players to average at least 15 points (15.0) and 3 assists (3.1).
* Sophomore Joseph Jones came back from an ankle sprain to scored 24 points with 8 rebounds in the win against Auburn, scoring 18 in the second half. Jones is one of only three players in the country who are maiking at least 60 percent from the field (.643) and 80 percent from the free throw line (.827).
* Sophomore Kenneth White scored a career-high 10 points against Auburn.
Talking Points
* A&M ranks fourth nationally and leads the Big 12 in scoring margin at +22.0.
* A&M is one of just 12 remaining unbeaten teams in college basketball.
* A&M has led at halftime in all eight games this year and has not trailed in the second half. A&M is 23-2 under Billy Gillispie when leading at halftime.
* A&M leads the Big 12 and ranks 14th nationally in scoring defense at 56.4 points per game.
* In 39 games under Billy Gillispie, only one opponent has shot better than 48 percent against A&M.
* A&M leads the Big 12 and ranks ninth nationally in assists with 19.5 per game. A&M also leads the Big 12 in turnover margin (+9.0) and assists/turnovers ratio (1.42). The Aggies are eighth nationally in ratio.
* A&M is forcing an average of 22.8 turnovers per game, most in the Big 12.
* A&M has won 21 straight regular-season non-conference games.
* A&M is 25-3 at home under Billy Gillispie.
* A&M and Texas are the only Big 12 teams who are making at least .475 from the field while allowing under 40.0 percent.
* A&M is one of just four teams to rank among the top 10 nationally in both offensive and defensive efficiency (points per 100 possessions).
* A&M has scored 28.5 percent of its points from the free throw line, the most in the Big 12 and fourth most nationally.
* The Aggies lead the nation in free throw rate (free throws made divided by field goal attempts) at 43.7 percent.
* A&M currect crop of first-year players was ranked as the ninth best nationally by HoopScoop and that was before the late addition of 6-10 freshman Chinemelu Elonu. The early 2006 class also is ranked ninth nationally and includes four of the top 10 players in Texas.
* A&M has 16 Texas high school products on its 19-man roster, the most in school history. The season before Billy Gillispie?â„¢s arrival, the Aggies had just four Texas players, including two walk-ons.
* Acie Law and Marlon Pompey are the only players who were on the A&M roster two years ago. Of the 19 players listed, 90 percent are first or second-year players.
Looking Ahead
* A&M concludes its 10-game season-opening homestand against Northwestern State on Dec. 31 before embarking on Sunday for its first road trip. The Aggies play their final non-conference game against Pacific on Jan. 3 in Stockton, Calif.
* A&M opens Big 12 play on Jan. 7 against Texas Tech at Reed Arena. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m.
Streaking Aggies
* The Aggies have opened the season with an 8-0 record, matching the sixth-best start in school history.
* Last year, A&M started 11-0, its best start since 1919-20.
* The eight-game winning streak ties for the seventh longest in school history and is the second longest (behing last year?â„¢s 11-game streak) since the 1979-80 Aggies also won nine straight.
* Prior to last season, the last time A&M win 10 straight games or started 10-0 was in 1959-60.
Stout Defense
* The Aggies rank 14th nationally and lead the Big 12 in scoring defense, allowing just 56.4 points per game. nA&M has allowed no opponent to shoot better than 44.4 percent from the field and has held four teams under 40 percent.
* In 39 games under Billy Gillispie, only one opponent has shot better than 48 percent.
* The Aggies are allowing their opponents to make just 39.9 percent from the field and lead the Big 12 in three-point percentage defense, allowing only 27.8 percent.
* A&M is forcing an average of 22.8 turnovers per game, most in the Big 12. Savannah State had 34 miscues, tying for the second most ever by an A&M opponent.
Efficient Offense
* The Aggies rank ninth nationally and lead the Big 12 in assists, averaging 19.5 per game.
* A&M leads the Big 12 and ranks eighth nationally in assist/turnover ratio at 1.42.
* The Aggies are making 47.8 percent from the field, fifth best in the Big 12. A&M has made better than 50 percent in three games and has shot under 40 percent just once.
* A&M ranks second in the Big 12 in three-point percentage (.386) and is fourth in the Big 12 in three-point field goals per game at 7.0. The Aggies tied a school record with 13 treys against Southern and had 11 against Grambling State.
Going Both Ways
* A&M and Texas are the only Big 12 teams to make at least 47.5 percent from the field while allowing their opponents less than 40.0 percent.
* A&M is one of only four teams in the nation to rank among the top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency, which is based on points scored and allowed per 100 possessions. The Aggies are eighth in offensive efficiency (115.0) and seventh in defensive efficiency (82.1). The other three teams are Villanova, Connecticut and Washington.
* Last year?â„¢s Aggies were one of only three teams in the nation to rank in the top 20 nationally in field goal percentage (.486, 14th) and field goal percentage defense (.394, 17th).
* Former UTEP Coach Don Haskins, who led the Miners to the 1966 NCAA title and inspired the new movie ?Glory Road,? said of Gillispie: ?His teams are among the best I?â„¢ve seen going both ways. Most teams that run a little bit don?â„¢t guard anyone. With Billy, you?â„¢re going to see defense, too.?
Big Joe
* After missing the Savannah State game and playing only briefly against Grambling because of an ankle sprain, sophomore Joseph Jones led the win against Auburn with 24 points and eight rebounds.
* Jones is averaging 16.6 points and a team-best 6.1 rebounds while making 64.3 percent from the field and 82.7 percent from the free throw line. He was averaging 18.4 points going into the Grambling game.
* Jones is one of only three players in the nation, and the lone Big 12 player, who are making at least 60 percent from the field and 80 percent from the line.
* CBS Sportsline.com ranks Jones as the fifth best center in the country.
* He ranks among the top 15 in the Big 12 in scoring (9th), rebounding (12th), field goal percentage (3rd), free throw percentage (4th) and steals (14th).
* In his last five complete games (not counting Grambling, when he played less than one minute), Jones is averaging 21.8 points and 8.4 rebounds.
* Against North Texas, he scored a career-high 35 points (the most by an Aggie in 11 years) and tied his career-best with 13 rebounds.
* He scored 20 points against Tulane.
* After earning freshman All-America honors last season (CollegeInsider.com), Jones was rated as the Big 12?â„¢s top rebounder by some preseason publications.
* Jones was named honorable mention All-Big 12 as a freshman after averaging 12.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.
* He made 57.7 percent from the field and connected on 109-of-174 free throws (.626), an A&M freshman record for makes and attempts.
BIG 12 CAREER FG PCT.
.625 Chianti Roberts, Oklahoma State, 1996-97
.601 David Harrison, Colorado, 2001-04
.591 Terry Black, Baylor, 1999-01
.589 Joseph Jones, Texas A&M, 2004-06
.588 Evan Wiley, Oklahoma, 1996-98
A&M CAREER FG PCT.
.589 Joseph Jones, 2004-06
.584 Rudy Woods, 1978-82
.562 Winston Crite, 1983-87
.559 Damon Johnson, 1991-95
.558 Donald Thompson, 1987-89
Law Enforcer
* After missing the Savannah State game with a concussion, junior Acie Law came back to scored 19 points in the win against Auburn.
* Law is averaging 15.0 points and 3.3 assists per game while making 55.6 percent from the field and 81.8 percent from the free throw line.
* Law and Iowa State?â„¢s Curtis Stinson are the only Big 12 players to average at least 15.0 points with a minimum of 3.0 assists.
* He ranks 11th in the Big 12 in scoring and is seventh in field goal percentage, fifth in free throw percentage, 13th in steals (1.83) and 13th in assists.
* Law scored a career-high 30 points against Mississippi Valley State.
* Last year as a sophomore, Law established himself as one of the Big 12?â„¢s top perimeter players, averaging 12.0 points and ranking third in the league with 4.9 assists.
* Law earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors and also garnered a spot on the league?â„¢s All-Improved Team. He was rated as the Big 12?â„¢s top passer this season by some publications.
A&M CAREER ASSISTS
602 David Edwards, 1991-94
550 Bernard King, 1999-03
535 Dave Goff, 1976-80
491 Todd Holloway, 1983-87
368 Tony Milton, 1988-90
346 Freddie Ricks, 1987-91
344 Kyle Kessel, 1994-96
295 Darryl McDonald, 1986-88
279 Acie Law, 2003-06
Steady Kirk
* Sophomore Dominique Kirk has been the team?â„¢s steadiest perimeter player, starting in all 39 games as an Aggie.
* Kirk is averaging 7.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists while making 41.9 percent from three-point range.
* Kirk leads the Big 12 in assists/turnover ratio at 2.89 and is 10th in assists.
* He scored a season-high 17 points against Savannah State and has 10 against Tulane.
* Kirk has scored at least nine points in five games.
* He has averaged 9.3 points in the last three games and has made 9-of-19 three-pointers in the last five games.
* Kirk has made three treys in three games. He ranks 11th in the Big 12 in three-pointers per game (1.63).
Bennett Makes Impact
* Freshman Martellus Bennett, a member of the A&M football team, joined the team on Nov. 28 and has quickly made an impact.
* Bennett is averaging 6.0 points and 1.8 rebounds.
* He?â„¢s averaging 10.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in the last three games, making 16-of-24 (.667) free throws in that span.
* Bennett scored 18 points against Grambling and followed with 12 against Savannah State, reaching double figures in free throw attempts in both games.
* He has had at least one block in all but one game he?â„¢s played, including a key one late in his debut against Penn State.
* Bennett was rated as the top tight end prospect in the country out of high school and was rated as the 21st best hoops prospect by Hoop Scoop.
* He was named the 2005 Houston player of the year in basketball.
* Bennett was named second-team freshman All-America on the gridiron last fall.
* He?â„¢s the first football lettermen to play basketball at A&M since Billy Bob Barnett in 1969.
Getting to The Line
* The Aggies are averaging a whopping 32.1 free throw attempts per game.
* A&M has scored 28.5 percent of its points from the line, the most in the Big 12 and the fourth most in the nation.
* The Aggies lead the nation in free throw rate (free throws made divided by field goal attempts) at 43.7 percent.
Scoring Trends
* While A&M has averaged just 11.5 offensive rebounds, it has averaged 12.3 second-chance points.
* A&M has averaged 29.3 points in the paint to only 17.0 by its opponents.
* The Aggies have averaged 9.9 fast break points to only 5.5 by their opponents.
* A&M has averaged a whopping 28.9 points off turnovers while its opponents have averaged just 12.4. The Aggies have had at least 29 points off turnovers in six games.
Making History
* Billy Gillispie is 29-10 in his second year as A&M?â„¢s head coach, the second-best coaching start in school history. D.X. Bible was 31-7 through his first 38 games in 1920-22.
* Gillispie?â„¢s last two teams led the nation in improvement, a first in college basketball history.
* His 2003-04 team at Texas-El Paso posted an 18-win increase (6-24 in 2002-03 to 24-8) and his 2004-05 A&M team had a 14-win improvement (7-21 in 2003-04 to 21-10).
* The Aggies also went 8-8 in Big 12 play in 2005, becoming only the third college team ever to go .500 in league play after finishing winless the previous year (0-16). The others were Miami (Fla) (0-18 to 9-9 in Big East) and Louisiana Tech (0-18 to 9-9 in Sun Belt), both in 1994-95.
* Gillispie was the consensus 2005 Big 12 coach of the year and was a finalist for national coach of the year honors.
* Gillispie is 53-18 in his last three years as a coach, the second best in that span among Big 12 coaches behind Oklahoma?â„¢s State?â„¢s Eddie Sutton.
* Gillispie has built a sparkling 41-4 (.909) record in home games in his last three seasons as a coach.
Home Sweet Home
* A&M is 25-3 (.893) at Reed Arena in two seasons under Billy Gillispie.
* A&M?â„¢s 25 home wins are the most of any team in the country in that time span.
* The Aggies went 17-3 at home last season, a school record that tied for the second most home victories in the nation.