No. 23 Aggies Battle Cowboys on 'Senior Day' Wednesday at Reed Arena
Mar 02, 2010 | Men's Basketball
March 2, 2010
Game 29
#23/24 Texas A&M Aggies
(20-8, 9-5 Big 12 Conference)
vs.
Oklahoma State Cowboys
(20-8, 8-6 Big 12 Conference)
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
8:05 p.m. (CT)
Reed Arena (12,989 cap.)
College Station, Texas
TICKETS: Available online at http://www13.ticketingcentral.com/V2/Quantity.aspx?8CC882213572064
*A discount is available for Texas A&M faculty and staff members. Click for details: http://www15.ticketingcentral.com/V2/Restrictions.aspx?8CC88221F48F2B6
*Students with a valid A&M ID will be admitted free.
TELEVISION: ESPN2
Ron Franklin, play-by-play
Stephen Bardo, commentary
Dish Network Channel 144
Direct TV Channel 209
ESPN360.com
RADIO: Texas A&M Sports Network
http://www.aggieathletics.com/multimedia/aggies-on-the-radio.html
Dave South, play-by-play
Al Pulliam, commentary
Sirius Satellite Radio: 130
Texas A&M Basketball Digital Media
Texas A&M Weekly Press Conference Audio (Monday): /ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27300&ATCLID=205220524
Texas A&M Media Almanac (complete bios, history and records): http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/352a4862
Mark Turgeon's Virtual Guide to Texas A&M Basketball: http://coachturgeon.com/
Aggie Basketball Fast Break blog: http://blogs.aggieathletics.com/fastbreak/
Texas A&M Aggies
http://www.aggieathletics.com/sports/m-baskbl/tam-m-baskbl-body.html
Record: 20-8 (9-5 Big 12)
Ranking: #23 (AP), #24 (ESPN/USA Today)
RPI: #13
Last Game: Beat #21 Texas (74-58) on Saturday
Head Coach: Mark Turgeon's (Kansas `87)
Record: 222-148 (12th year)
at Texas A&M: 69-29 (3rd year)
vs. Oklahoma State: 2-5 (2-3 at A&M)
Projected Texas A&M Starters
No. Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG APG
5 Dash Harris G 6-1 175 So 4.9 3.3 3.3
15 Donald Sloan G 6-3 205 Sr 18.1 3.6 2.1
22 Khris Middleton G 6-7 215 Fr 6.0 3.7 --
10 David Loubeau F 6-8 230 So 9.0 4.9 --
0 Bryan Davis F 6-9 250 Sr 10.0 8.0 --
Off the Bench
2 Derrek Lewis G 6-5 195 Jr 1.6 0.5 --
11 B.J. Holmes G 5-11 175 Jr 9.1 2.4 --
21 Ray Turner F 6-8 220 Fr 2.9 2.6 --
23 Naji Hibbert G 6-6 200 Fr 2.1 1.7 --
45 Nathan Walkup F 6-7 210 Jr 5.6 3.2 --
Oklahoma State Cowboys
http://www.okstate.com/sports/m-baskbl/okst-m-baskbl-body.html
Record: 20-8 (8-6 Big 12 Conference)
Ranking: Receiving votes (both polls)
RPI: 26
Last Game: Beat #1 Kansas (85-77) on Saturday
Head Coach: Travis Ford (Kentucky '94)
Record: 233-184 (13th year)
at Oklahoma State: 43-20 (2nd year)
vs. Texas A&M: 2-1
Projected Oklahoma State Starters
No. Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG APG
12 Keiton Page G 5-9 170 So 10.8 1.6 2.4
21 Fred Gulley G 6-2 175 Fr 1.5 2.5 --
23 James Anderson G 6-6 210 Jr 22.6 6.1 --
2 Obi Muonelo G 6-5 220 Sr 13.5 5.3 --
31 Matt Pilgrim F 6-8 235 Jr 8.1 6.8 --
Big 12 Conference: http://www.big12sports.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10410&KEY=&SPID=13134&SPSID=106110
NCAA: http://www.ncaa.com/statistics/index.html
Series Notes
*Oklahoma State leads the series, 30-13, but A&M has won six of the last nine meetings. The Cowboys posted a 76-69 victory on Jan. 27 in Stillwater. The Aggies won 76-64 last year in College Station.
*OSU leads 12-8 in games played in College Station (7-4 at Reed Arena), but A&M has won three of the last four at Reed Arena.
Game Notes
*Wednesday's "Senior Day" game marks the final home appearance of seniors Donald Sloan, Bryan Davis, Derrick Roland, Chris Chapman and Shawn Schepel. The class is the second winningest in school history (96 wins) and needs three more wins to break the record (98 wins) set by last year's class. These seniors are 64-8 (.889) at home.
*A&M is coming off a 74-58 win against No. 24 Texas at home on Saturday. Oklahoma State is coming off an 85-77 upset of No. 1 Kansas at home on Saturday.
*The Aggies are 14-1 (6-1 Big 12) in home games while OSU is 3-6 (2-5 Big 12) in true road games.
*A&M's only home loss this season was to No. 1-ranked Kansas (59-54) on Feb. 15.
*A&M has had four straight sellouts at Reed Arena, breaking the single game record three times. A record crowd of 13,717 attended the Texas game on Saturday.
*A&M has won 17 of its last 18 home games, including nine of its last 10 in Big 12 play. The Aggies are 30-3 at home in the last two seasons with a 12-3 mark in conference games.
*A&M has won 15 straight home games against unranked opponents (seven straight in Big 12 play).
*A&M is 15-5 in its last 20 Big 12 games, tied with Kansas State for second best in the conference in that span behind Kansas' 18-2 mark.
*A&M has played 10 nationally-ranked opponents, the most of any Big 12 team, and has played four teams ranked in the top 10 in this week's AP poll (Kansas, Kansas State, West Virginia and New Mexico). A&M played four nationally-ranked non-conference foes (that doesn't include New Mexico, which entered the rankings the next week). The Aggies' schedule-to-date is ranked as the fourth-toughest nationally by CBS Sports.
*The 10 nationally-ranked opponents are the most in A&M history. The old record was nine set in 1978-79.
*A&M is 4-6 against ranked teams this season with wins against No. 19 Clemson (69-60), No. 16 Minnesota (66-65) and No. 20 Baylor (78-71). Seven of the Aggies' eight losses have been to teams that have been ranked in the top 25 for multiple weeks (Kansas, Texas, West Virginia, Washington, Baylor, New Mexico and Kansas State). The other loss was at Oklahoma State. A&M is 16-2 (7-1 Big 12) against unranked foes.
*The four wins against ranked opponents ties for the second most in school history with the 2006-07 team. The school record is five in 1978-79
*In Big 12 play, A&M ranks last in the league in three-point percentage (.247) but is fourth in two-point percentage (.496). The Aggies have made 14-of-30 (.467) from three-point range the last two games.
*A&M is 12-1 this season when scoring at least 70 points.
*A&M ranks second in the Big 12 in fewest average turnovers (12.3).
*A&M has averaged 32.0 points in the paint in the last eight games along with 15.4 offensive rebounds and 14.3 second-chance points.
*A&M is 17-2 this season when out-rebounding its opponents but is 3-6 when being beaten on the boards.
*A&M is 18-2 this season when it has more free throw attempts than its opponent but is 2-6 when its opponent gets more attempts.
*In Big 12 play, A&M has held its opponents to an average of 9.7 points under their respective scoring averages. Only Kansas State (+7) and Oklahoma State (+1) have exceeded their averages against the Aggies. Texas scored a season low 58 points in College Station while top-ranked Kansas scored just 59 points, its fewest in Big 12 play.
*A&M leads the Big 12 in scoring defense (66.9) in conference play.
*A&M is 17-1 this season when its opponents score fewer than 70 points.
*A&M has rallied from double-digit deficits in three Big 12 wins. All but four conference games have been decided by seven points or fewer. A&M is 6-2 in games decided by four points or fewer.
*Senior Bryan Davis leads the Big 12 in offensive rebounding (3.9) in league play. He has averaged a double-double (11.1 ppg/10.1 rpg) in A&M's nine Big 12 wins. He's posted double figures in rebounding in five of the last seven games.
*Davis is the second A&M player to score 1,000 points with 500 rebounds, 100 blocks, 100 steals and 100 assists, joining Winston Crite (1983-87).
*Junior B.J. Holmes is listed as questionable with a sprained foot. He's averaged 9.7 points in A&M's nine Big 12 wins and has made 16-of-34 (.471) from three-point range in the last seven games.
*Senior Donald Sloan ranks third in the Big 12 in scoring (18.8) in league play. He's averaged 11.9 second-half points in A&M's nine Big 12 wins.
*Freshman Ray Turner scored a season-high 9 points against Texas on Saturday and has averaged 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in the last two games.
*Sophomore David Loubeau has averaged 12.7 points and 7.0 rebounds in the last nine games.
*Five of the Aggies' top nine scorers are underclassmen (three freshmen, two sophomores).
About Oklahoma State
*The Cowboys finished 23-12 last year and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
*Oklahoma State is in its second season under Coach Travis Ford.
*The Cowboys are led by junior guard James Anderson, who leads the Big 12 in scoring with 22.6 points per game. Senior guard Obi Muonelo adds 13.5 points and leads the Big 12 in three-point percentage (.441).
Earlier This Season in Stillwater
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP/Jan. 27) -- Obi Muonelo scored a season-high 24 points, James Anderson added 19 and Oklahoma State extended its home winning streak to 16 games with a 76-69 victory over Texas A&M. Oklahoma State shot a season-best 57.9 percent. Donald Sloan scored 27 points to lead A&M. On their final possession, the Aggies swung the ball to B.J. Holmes in the left corner but James leaped and stretched out his hand to block the shot. Brown grabbed the ball, got fouled, and made two free throws for the final points.
Last Year in College Station
COLLEGE STATION (AP/Jan. 31, 2009) -Bryan Davis had 18 points to lead four Texas A&M players in double figures and the Aggies got a 76-64 win over Oklahoma State. The Aggies led by 14 at halftime, but allowed the Cowboys to get within two points midway through the second half. Donald Sloan then hit a jumper, got fouled on a 3-point attempt and made all three free throws to put A&M comfortably ahead. A&M made 11 free throws in the last five minutes to secure the win. Oklahoma State was led by Terrel Harris with 17 points.
*Senior guard Derrick Roland will miss the rest of the season after breaking his right leg on Dec. 22 against Washington. Roland was considered by many to be the top perimeter defender in the Big 12. He was the Aggies' No. 2 scorer, a team captain and perhaps the team's top leader.
*To illustrate Roland's importance to the team, because of foul trouble or injury he played fewer than 25 minutes in all three losses. His fewest minutes played came in the close losses to New Mexico (14 minutes, early foul trouble) and Washington (16 minutes, leg injury). He also got in foul trouble against West Virginia (24 minutes) and was on the bench during a key second-half run by the Mountaineers.
Depleted Roster
*When last season ended, Coach Turgeon thought he would have four senior starters returning in 2009-10. But All-Big 12 center Chinemelu Elonu opted to remain in the NBA Draft and was chosen late in the second round by the Los Angeles Lakers. Then Roland was lost before the Christmas break to a season-ending broken leg.
*In addition, Turgeon expected to have the services of freshmen big men Kourtney Roberson (6-9, 230) and Ray Turner (6-8, 220) when fall practice began. However, Roberson did not qualify and Turner was not cleared by the NCAA clearinghouse to even practice until mid-December. A&M re-signed Roberson, who is attending a prep school, in November as part of the 2010 recruiting class.
*In addition, DeAndre Jordan entered the 2008 NBA Draft after his freshman season. He would have been a junior this year. Jordan was a second-round pick by the Los Angeles Clippers.
