Texas A&M
5-1
Temple
3-2
Texas A&M Takes Down No. 21 Temple, 54-51
Nov 28, 2010 | Men's Basketball
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) -Temple is taking some valuable baggage home from its disappointing trip to Florida.
David Loubeau scored 13 points, Naji Hibbert added 12 and Texas A&M beat the No. 21 Owls 54-51 Sunday in the consolation bracket of the Old Spice Classic.
"I think we learned a lot about our team," Temple coach Fran Dunphy said. "I think what we learned was, we're not as good as we were regarded early on. Can we get there? That's the hope. We're still a work in progress."
Texas A&M (5-1) went ahead 52-51 when B.J. Holmes scored off a rebound with 18.5 seconds left. Temple (3-2) had gone up 51-50 when Ramone Moore made two free throws with just under a minute remaining.
After Temple's Juan Fernandez missed an open late jumper, Khris Middleton made it 54-51 by hitting two free throws with 2.3 seconds to go.
"It's such a fine line," Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon said. "I mean, if the kid hits the shot, we're not smiling. You feel like the world's coming to an end. But he missed it, we got the rebound and we win the game."
Fernandez and Lavoy Allen had 10 points apiece for Temple, which lost its opening game of the tournament to California 57-50 Thursday. One day later the Owls beat Georgia 65-58.
"What we take out of this is, we've got to work harder than we've been working, probably," Dunphy said. "We've got to shoot the ball better. Our defense is pretty solid. We've got a chance to be a good basketball team."
Holmes hit a 3 and Hibbert had a pair of baskets as Texas A&M took a 37-27 advantage three minutes into the second half. Hibbert added a 3-pointer that extended the Aggies' lead to 42-29 with 13 1/2 minutes left.
"I just had to do some soul-searching and try to stay confident in my game," said Hibbert, who entered averaging 7.6 points off the bench.
Temple responded by scoring the next nine points to get within 42-38 at the 11-minute mark. Khalif Wyatt and Aaron Brown both hit 3's during the stretch.
Wyatt made a free throw and then scored on a layup after missing a second shot from the line as Temple went ahead 47-46 with just under seven minutes to play.
Texas A&M took a 30-25 lead into halftime, getting nine points from Loubeau in a 22-10 run over the final eight minutes of the half. The Aggies hit 12 of 18 free throws during the opening 20 minutes, while Temple converted 7 of its 10 chances from the foul line.
Texas A&M has outscored it opponents 229-150 during the first half this season.
TEXAS A&M POSTGAME NOTES
Team
- Texas A&M picked up its first win over a ranked opponent in its first try this season.
- With the win, the Aggies finish the Old Spice Classic at 2-1 ... A&M will finish in a tie for second in victories in the tournament.
- A&M has now won 9 of their last 13 games away from Reed Arena dating back to last season.
- Texas A&M improves to 11-3 under Mark Turgeon in early-season tournaments.
- The Aggies had a 30-25 lead at the break ... A&M has now outscored opponents 229-145 in the first half this season.
- The Aggies out-rebounded Temple, 45-30 ... A&M has out-rebounded its opponent in every game this year.
- The series between the schools is now tied, 1-1 ... Sunday was the first meeting since the 1957-58 season ... A&M is now 9-18 all-time against Atlantic 10 Conference opponents and has won 4 of the last 5 meetings.
- The Aggies return home to open up a four-game homestand Thursday ... A&M's opponents on the stretch combined for 88 wins last year (SFA - 23, Pacific - 23, Prairie View - 16, Washington - 26).
- Texas A&M has now hit at least one 3-pointer in 308 consecutive games dating back to January of 2001.
Individual
- Naji Hibbert matched a career high with 12 points ... his 7 rebounds were the most in his career ... Hibbert played a career-high 26 minutes.
- Ray Turner played a career-high 21 minutes and snagged a career-best 12 rebounds ... Turner is the second Aggie to hit double-figures in rebounds this year (David Loubeau, 12 vs A&M International) ... Turner matched a career high with 2 blocks.
- David Loubeau led all scorers with a game-high 13 points ... Loubeau has gone for double figures in three of the last four games.
- Khris Middleton was held to 8 points, marking the first time this season he did not score in double figures ... Middleton averaged 15.7 points and 6.3 rebounds in Orlando.
POSTGAME QUOTES
Head Coach Mark Turgeon
"That was as physical as you're going to get in a basketball game. One team shoots 33 percent, the other one shoots 31 percent. It came down to one play, BJ (Holmes) made a play. We missed the shot, we didn't really get a great shot, and BJ made a play. They (then) had a wide open look. You've got to be really good and you've got to be really lucky in this business, and I think we were a little bit of both today. I was really proud of my group because we really haven't played with a lot of toughness quite honestly, not to take anything away from Boston College. The team we beat today is really good. I think they're a top-20 team in the country, and will be. Maybe better as the year goes on. I was proud of our group. We made a play and you know, (Ray Turner and Naji Hibbert) had great games. Naji gave us great offense today and played the way he's capable of playing. And Ray just was determined on the boards. If you look at the rebounding, 45-30, that's really the difference in the game."
On getting the win today - "It changes everything. And it's such a fine line. I mean, that kid hits the shot, we're not up here first, we're not smiling and we feel like the world's coming to an end. But he missed it, we got a rebound, and we win the game. I was going to be of our group no matter what because I feel like we got better. We're still a work in progress, a young team, but today I think we' really grew up. I thought Temple was ready to play and I thought we were ready to play. I thought it was a high-level college basketball game"
On BJ's final play - "He's exhausted. I had to play him too much the first game and the second game, and I had to play him a lot today. Actually, him picking up fouls probably helped him because I got to rest him a little bit. His eyes are bloodshot down there and he looks dehydrated. The kid's a winner and he's tough as heck. He's been doing that for us for four years. Not only the rebound, but to finish the way he finished and to draw the foul. And he doesn't miss free throws, that just shows you how tired he was."
On the bench - We built some depth this weekend and that's what these tournaments are for. It doesn't determine a lot except it gives you a chance to get better as a team. I think we built some depth and got better and it's good to see."
Sophomore G Naji Hibbert
On his game - "I just had to do some soul searching and stay confident in my game. That's one thing I've always had problems with growing up. I'm just trying to stay aggressive and confident day in and day out."
On boosting his confidence after today - "I think it all starts with my teammates. All of them picked me up all day yesterday and the day before and all day today. That helped me get over the hump."
Sophomore F Ray Turner
On grabbing 12 rebounds against a team like Temple - "It was actually very difficult. Their bigs are very physical. It was good competition. The thing I kept telling myself was I've got to get it. I've got to get it. So when the ball went up I had to wait till it bounced and find it."
On the difference in winning Sunday and losing Thursday - "I think when we played Boston College us as bigs weren't ready. We didn't think they'd come at us like they did. All their shots were falling. Today we were more into it. I think if we played like we played today we would have beaten Boston College. But that game is behind us so we have to move on."
