January 12, 2008
Dominique Kirk scored 15 points and freshman DeAndre Jordan added 14 to lead 11th-ranked Texas A&M to an easy 86-69 victory over Colorado on Saturday, their eighth straight win by at least 15 points.
For the Buffaloes it was another dismal start to conference play as they lost their 11th straight Big 12 opener. Colorado (8-7, 0-1) has won just once in a league opener since the inception of the Big 12.
The only time the Aggies (15-1, 1-0) trailed in this one was when a 3 by Cory Higgins made it 3-0 in the opening minute. They led by 15 points at halftime and had built their lead to 61-42 after a layup by Bryan Davis about eight minutes into the second half.
A dunk by Marcus King-Stockton capped a 12-6 run for Colorado and cut A&M's lead to 67-54. Kirk answered the run with a jump shot and a 3-pointer to put the game out of reach.
Higgins had 15 points for the Buffaloes and Xavier Silas and Richard Roby added 14 apiece.
Postgame Quotes & Notes
Colorado Head Coach Jeff Bzdelik
"What I told my basketball team is that we played an excellent team. What we need to do is learn from this game. Whether we had won or lost we need to grow from this game. In the first half I thought we settled a little bit; too many threes. We allowed them to get too many uncontested looks from beyond the arc. We counted six uncontested three point attempts that they made in the first half. We lost Carter, and we lost Walkup, those are defensive mistakes obviously. That allowed them seperation."
Texas A&M Head Coach Mark Turgeon
"I have mixed feelings sitting up here. Obviously, I'm happy we won. I thought offensively we were really good. The first half we shared the ball. We had 13 assists on 15 baskets. We really executed at a high level. They made some adjustments in the second half and it took us a while to get going. We really shared the ball and shot the ball well. You have to give them credit. That system is really hard to guard. We couldn't guard the ball screen. We tried everything. We squeezed, doubled, showed, and switched. We probably had the most success with the switch. We tried everything. They are really hard to guard. To be quite honest with you, I was disappointed in our focus defensively. We didn't guard with the same intensity in the second half. We didn't guard screens the right way. That was the most disappointing thing. You have to give Colorado a lot of credit. Their offense was really good today. Those players are good. I don't know if anybody has ever shot 77% in a half on us. They kept going smaller with their lineup and it made it harder on us. I don't like going small with our lineup. We have so many good big guys that are playing well right now. I'm disappointed in our defense. We never adjusted. We decided we were going to let Higgins beat us and we chose the wrong guy today. Offensively, we continue to get better and better. We are executing of a high level. Tonight we had 22 assists on 7 turnovers. We're playing well. We're hard to guard. If they double the posts we're making shots. Our post guys can really pass and our guards are very unselfish. I'm glad we only have to play Colorado once. Those guys are good. (Jeff Bzdelik) is going to be there a long time because he's a heck of a coach. He's the right guy for that job. I think he can do some nice things there. I think a lot of teams have played zone on them when they get hot, but I'm stubborn. Zone is a four letter word to me." (on DeAndre) "He's pretty special. I expect him to do things like that. In the first half he was really, really good and in the second half defensively, he was nonexistent. He has to act like a seven footer out there. That first half he was as good as he has been on both halves."
Texas A&M Senior Guard Dominique Kirk
"I think we did a great job but we still have to get better on the defensive end. They shot 61% from the field. That's not our style. We have to continue to go out there and play hard on defense. Offensively, we did a good job sharing the ball and a lot of peole got involved in the game
Texas A&M Freshman Center DeAndre Jordan
"This was a very important game for us to come out and set the tone for the conference season. We prepared for it just like every other game. I came out and took what the defense gave me and we came out on top. (on the dunk) Coach talks to us a lot about crashing the glass. I just crashed the glass and the ball ended up in my hand."
A&M NOTES
*A&M is 15-1 for the first time since 1921-22, when the Aggies started 16-1. The best start in school history was by the 1919-20 team, which finished 19-0.
*A&M's 15-1 start is the best by a first-year head coach in school history.
*A&M has won 15 straight home games and 36 of its last 37. The Aggies are 13-0 at home this season.
*A&M has won eight straight games overall.
*A&M has won five straight against Colorado.
*A&M is 85-27 in the last four seasons, tying the school record for most wins in a four-year period. A&M was 85-40 in 1978-82.
*Six Aggies scored in double figures for the second time this season (UC Irvine).
*A&M made a season-best .857 (12-14) from the free-throw line.
*A&M had 22 assists (its second most of the year) with only seven turnovers (its second fewest of the season).
*A&M tied a season-best with 8 steals (McNeese State and Washington).
*A&M made a season-high 10 three-point field goals (18 att.) and a season-best .556 from three-point range.
*A&M has out-rebounded all 16 opponents.
*Dominique Kirk tied his season-best with 15 points and added 5 assists with 0 turnovers. Kirk came into the game leading the Big 12 in assist/turnover ratio.
*Joseph Jones scored 10 points with a career-high 6 assists (0 turnovers) and had a season-high 3 steals.
*Josh Carter scored 11 points (his 10th straight game in double figures) and added 5 assists. Carter made 3-of-6 three-pointers.
*Donald Sloan scored 13 points and tied his career-high with 3 three-pointers (5 att.).
*DeAndre Jordan scored 14 points with a game-high 9 rebounds.
*Bryan Davis scored 13 points (5-6 FG), tying for the second best game of his career.