Texas A&M
12-11, 3-8
Texas
15-9, 5-6
Aggies Fall to Texas, 70-68
Feb 07, 2012 | Men's Basketball
COLLEGE STATION--J'Covan Brown hit the go-ahead layup with less than a minute remaining and later added a pair of free throws to lift Texas to a 70-68 win over Texas A&M on Monday night.
The win is the Longhorns' fifth straight over A&M in the last regular-season Big 12 meeting between these schools.
Brown's free throws with 17 seconds remaining made it 70-67. Elston Turner was fouled before he could get a shot off on the other end. He made one free throw and missed the second one, and Julien Lewis grabbed the rebound to cap the Texas win.
Brown led the Longhorns (15-9, 5-6) with 20 points and Sheldon McClellan added 15.
Turner had 20 points for Texas A&M (12-11, 3-8), which has dropped three straight.
HEAD COACH BILLY KENNEDY
Opening statement
Obviously it's a very difficult loss, I feel bad for our fans, alumni, students, and our players. They're fighting hard, and to lose two games at the end like we did recently hurts. Got to give Texas credit, they executed at the end and we couldn't stop them when we needed to and we couldn't.
On David Loubeau's play
He's being more aggressive earlier than they were in the year. People aren't consistently double teaming him. We want to get him the ball as much as we can. We wanted to go to him at the end. We just have to get so much more out of everyone to win.
On David holding the ball that last play of the game
Yeah, we've been working on him just backing defenders in and attacking, we want him to shoot the ball. Unfortunately, he passed it out and they did a good job on putting a hand on the ball.
What happened that last play with J'Covan Brown?
We did a poor job of helping. They ran a special play, he drove it left and Elston got screened by both post guys, and our post guys were slow on rotating with the help. Not having Dash hurts us, he's our best 1-on-1 defender and our best guarding the ball defender. Hopefully we'll get him back Saturday.
SENIOR GUARD ELSTON TURNER
On coming back from behind
We always tell each other that we've been in this position before. We were down 11-0 at Kansas and took the lead. We were down 11 at Baylor and took the lead. Each time you do it, you become confident you can come back. Our whole team has a lot of heart; we've come through a lot of adversity this year. We're going to fight to the end. We're not going to give up.
On losing close games
It's close, both games were. You have to give Texas credit. They executed toward the end and we didn't get stops, plain and simple. We played tough and played a hard 40 minutes. But in this game, you have to play hard and smart.
On wanting to win this game for more than just the basketball team
Yeah, we wanted to win not just for us but for the whole university. Former players, students, graduates. It was a big game not just for the basketball programs, but the whole schools.
On David Loubeau and Ray Turner's play
Dave has been real patient the last couple games, which is what we need. I feel like nobody can guard him 1-on-1. Ray just brought energy tonight. When he does that, a lot of dunks, being aggressive on the offensive rebounds. He was doing that tonight.
On running the point position helping when Dash comes back
Yeah, I feel like it will because regardless, I'm still going to have to play the point when Dash comes back whether he's in or not. I think it's going to help not just the next couple of games, but my overall game in general.
SENIOR FORWARD DAVID LOUBEAU
How close were you to getting a shot off on that last play?
It was just a difficult position. I still feel I could've got a shot off. I tried to do the right thing and kick it back out, but Kabongo turned around.
On missing Middleton and Harris
They're two big keys to our team. Dash and me and Khris have given blood sweat and tears to the team. Dash brings energy to the defense, he's really a floor generals. Khris as one of our scorers, he really spreads the floor, and we could really use that right now. But we have to be patient and wait for them to get back.
TEXAS POSTGAME QUOTES
TEXAS HEAD COACH RICK BARNES
On the intensity of the game
It was a hard fought game. You have to be impressed with the way A&M really fought through their injury situation. I thought the guys that came in played really hard, I felt tonight when we got a lead we got too relaxed a few times and they fought back.
On the final play to J'Covan
It's a play we haven't ever ran before. A lot of people run what we call the gate play. We work on a lot of different stuff, and we just ran it. We wanted to get the ball to J'Covan.
On Myck Kabongo's play, the bench's play
I thought Myck was terrific tonight. In some ways, maybe played as well as he's played all year. Jonathan came in an did some good things for us.
What does it mean to win this one after a long hard-fought game?
We've had situations where we've needed to get a basket, and we've had games at home where we've had a lead and couldn't get a stop. Tonight we had the lead and got the stop.
On the team's mentality this game
Our body language, there wasn't any doubt. We're with our guys so much, and you can see it. Confidence wise, I thought tonight we carried ourselves. I didn't like the way we carried ourselves with the lead, we got too casual.
JUNIOR GUARD J'COVAN BROWN
What was the play call on your layup near the end of the game?
Coach called a good play, really it was just an iso play for me. I got screen from Julien and the bigs pinned down and closed the gates. I had a mismatch, the big guy got stuck guarding me. It was a good play call.
On the defensive steal on the other end late in the game
We new they were going to iso Loubeau. Lexi said he wanted it, but we did a good job with the team help. Myck came up with the big steal. That's what you have to do to close out big games.
On getting a big win on the road
It feels great to get out of that slump. These young guys want it, you can see it on their faces, they want to win.
FRESHMAN SHELDON MCCLELLAN
In the team's increasing maturity
I think we just stand together as a team; we're communicating more, listening to the coaches more. Early in the year we're trying to do things on our own, and now we're just focusing and working hard.
On getting the final win between Texas and Texas A&M
It felt great. I've been watching Texas and Texas A&M for a long time. It felt great to get the last victory for Texas.
On getting a close win, and it bringing the team together
It brings us together even more because we haven't won a road game since UCLA. It feels good to get a road win, now we just have to get back in the gym and keep it up.
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