Texas A&M
(#7) Texas
Texas 83, Texas A&M 70
Feb 04, 2006 | Men's Basketball
February 04, 2006
P.J. Tucker scored 25 points and No. 7 Texas survived a 31-point effort from Texas A&M's Joseph Jones to keep its lead in the Big 12 with an 83-70 victory Saturday.
Tucker grabbed 12 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season. Jones scored 23 points in the second half to spark an A&M rally but he fouled out with 3:46 to play.
Kenton Paulino added 19 points and Daniel Gibson had 13 for the Longhorns (19-3, 7-1), who entered the weekend with a one-game lead over Colorado, Oklahoma and Kansas in the Big 12. The Longhorns also hit 33 of 39 free throws.
Acie Law scored 18 points for the Aggies (13-7, 3-6), who have lost six of their last eight.
The intensity of the game rivaled the emotions these two schools usually have on the football field.
Tucker set the tone early, muscling over defenders for 12 points and six boards in the first half. On one play, he ripped a rebound from Jones, lowered his shoulder and knocked down another defender before dropping in the layup. Jones returned the favor when he knocked down Texas forward Brad Buckman on his way to the basket.
Texas needed Tucker's forceful play near the basket. Center LaMarcus Aldridge picked up two fouls in a 35-second span and spent most of the first half on the bench.
Trailing 35-28 at halftime, the Aggies rallied behind Jones and a trapping defense that harassed the Texas guards as soon as they stepped across midcourt.
Jones scored Texas A&M's first 11 points of the half. Just as important, he drew two critical fouls each on Aldridge and Buckman, sending both players to the bench to soften up the Longhorns' defense.
With those two out of way, Jones scored at will, rarely more than 2 or 3 feet from the basket.
The Aggies' constant pressure on the ball also disrupted the Longhorns' tempo. Texas led 57-40 before turnovers and missed shots helped A&M inch closer. Law cut the lead to 61-53 with two free throws with 9:15 to play.
Texas appeared to burst the rally when Paulino split two defenders to pass to Buckman, who slipped behind Jones for a two-handed dunk. A short hook by Jones pulled the Aggies within six before Buckman made two huge plays.
The first was drawing a foul on offense and hitting two free throws. The second came on defense when Buckman flopped on a drive by Jones, sending Jones to the bench with his fifth foul.
Aldridge, who spent most of the game on the bench, then came up with a rebound basket off a missed 3-pointer to push the Texas lead back to 10. With Jones out, the Aggies couldn't muster a final rally.
