TEXAS A&M POSTGAME NOTES
Team
- Texas A&M has won 65 straight non-conference games at Reed Arena (dating back to the start of the 2005-06 season) and 78 consecutive regular-season, non-conference home games (dating back to 2003) ... the Aggies are 97-9 all-time in non-conference games at Reed Arena and 117-14 at home since the start of the 2004-05 season.
- Over the last 3 games, Texas A&M has held opponents to 43 points per game, 29.8 percent from the floor (48-for-161) and 7-for-42 from the 3-point line (16.7 percent).
- A&M has held its last 3 opponents under 45 points per game ... the last time an Aggie team accomplished that was in 2006 (Saint Louis, Idaho State and Arkansas-Little Rock).
- The Aggies' 12 turnovers were a season low.
- Texas A&M held SFA to 0-for-7 shooting to start the game and did not allow the Lumberjacks a field goal for the first 8 minutes of play.
- A&M's defense held SFA scoreless over a 7:02 stretch of the second half, extending the lead from 8 (30-22) to 17 (39-22).
- Texas A&M now leads the all-time series, 18-3, and has won 14 in a row against SFA.
Individual
- Elston Turner scored a season-high 17 points and matched a career high with 4 three-pointers.
TEXAS A&M POSTGAME QUOTES
Opening statement
I was pleased with today's effort on both ends of the floor. I think we got better against a fairly good team, and I know they didn't' shoot the ball well. I have a lot of respect for SFA and their program and what coach Kaspar does and I'm proud to see them step up.
Was it good to see Elston get back to his normal shot making?
We have to have guys make shots and he's the best guy we have right now. I told him 'you better not hesitate when you have a shot.' We have to get the ball in the hole. I thought our guards played a lot better with decision-making tonight as well.
On A&M's shooting as a team
It is what it is. We're going to make shots at some point, I told our guys this week about it, and we're working and shooting more in the gym. Confidence wise, I told Naji, 'you get a good look, you shoot it.' It's something that's going to bother us, it's not a strength of ours. But when guys are open, I want them to shoot it.
What lineup were you most comfortable with tonight?
We played nine guys I think. Kourtney is still a little hurt with his ankle. He didn't practice one day this week. I like what the nine did tonight and I feel comfortable with those nine. And with Khris back, it will be 10 and I feel comfortable with those 10.
On having Jamal and Dash play together on the court
It gives us another ball handler on the floor. I think it's one thing we lack- our skill level on the perimeter is not the best without Khris. I was pleased with Jamal. I thought he shot with confidence. The shot he made from the free throw line was a little of what we want him to be able to do.
On David Loubeau playing aggressively
I was pleased with David. I thought he took good shots. I still don't think he's played as well as he can play. I thought he was more selective and aggressive offensively. I think he kicked it out and made some good decisions. And 12 turnovers, our lowest of the year, is not terrible against a pretty good defensive SFA team.
It seems like Loubeau has a tendency to turn the ball over when he dribbles multiple times, instead of making quick moves...
That's what we're trying to get him to do, to make quick moves. One dribble is enough for our post guys and sometimes that's too many.
On Keith Davis' play
Keith is our best post defender, I have a lot of respect for the Scott kid, he's one of the best scorers. Defensively, he knows his job and offensively he play s a good role as well.
On A&M's defensive play
I thought we got better, we won the second half. I don't think we played a great 40 minutes, but progress was made in what we did defensively in both halves.
JUNIOR GUARD ELSTON TURNER
Did it feel good to finally make a 3-pointer?
Yeah. It felt real good. I mean, there was really nothing wrong, every one I shot felt good they just didn't go in. The crazy thing is I've been making it in practice and that's how it goes. Just keep shooting, get in rhythm.
On A&M's collective shooting
We shoot every day and we know in order to beat the better teams as we move on, we're going to have to star making shots. It's a work in progress. We have to continue to shoot and when we get Khris back it will help, because he's a great shooter. And it's better to miss shots early on than in the Big 12 and in the (NCAA) tournament.
On playing more aggressively
I was trying to find different ways to get to the basket and help the team rebound more and contribute as much as I can.
SFA POSTGAME QUOTES
HEAD COACH DANNY KASPAR
Opening statement
I'm not very happy with the way we played. You shoot 29 percent from the field, 7o percent from free throw line. We were shooting too may threes. I'm at a loss to explain the difference between this and last weekend. We played pretty good against UTEP. I don't think they're quite as good as A&M if I had to be asked to who was the better team. But I thought we didn't play to our full potential out there.
On shooting poorly from the field
You limit your turnovers to six, you get outrebounded pretty good, but you're going to have a differential 16 rebounds when you miss 37 shots. There will be more defensive rebounds for them to grab. It comes down to us not shooting the ball well.
On A&M's presence inside
A&M has some good big men. We let them score too much inside. 22 points in the paint is far too may. We worked on that many times this week but they still exploited it, they're size advantage over us.
On Elston Turner's shooting
I will give Elston Turner some credit, I thought he shot the ball well tonight. He hit some shots that helped them keep us at bay.