COLLEGE STATION – The waiting for hoops fans is finally over as basketball returns to Reed Arena Friday night when the Texas A&M men's basketball team opens its 2014-15 season by hosting Northwestern State in a 7 p.m. contest.
The game will be streamed on SEC Network + which is available to SEC Network subscribers via SEC Network Plus as part of the WatchESPN app and ESPN3.com. Additionally, radio coverage on the Aggie Sports Network can be heard locally in the Bryan/College Station area on WTAW 1620 AM.
Entering its 103rd season of men's basketball, Texas A&M brings a solid core of returners from last season's 18-win club, including four starters and a total of eight letterwinners.
The Aggies underwent their final dress rehearsal for the new campaign last Wednesday as they defeated Texas A&M-Commerce in exhibition action. The win featured a balanced Texas A&M offensive attack, punctuated by six Aggies who reached double-digit scoring.
Newcomer Jalen Jones paced the scoring attack by leading the way with 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the floor while adding a team-high nine rebounds.
Junior guard Alex Caruso, who led the Southeastern Conference in assists last year, quickly rounded into form on the court, chipping in 12 points with eight helpers. The preseason awards have begun to roll in for the third-year Aggie as he has been named to the watch list for the 2015 Bob Cousy Award, which is presented annually to the top point guard in college basketball, and was honored as second team preseason All-SEC by the league's coaches.
Northwestern State, meanwhile, comes to Aggieland to start the new season after finishing 17-14 a year ago. Known as one of the nation's top offensive teams year-to-year, Northwestern State was second in the country last season when they averaged 86.6 points per game.
The Demons' roster features a pair of former Southland Conference Freshmen of the Year with Jalan West winning the honor in 2012-13 and Zeek Woodley earning the accolade after last season.
QUICK HITS
• The Aggies have won 13 straight season-opening games and 14 straight home openers ... A&M is playing its season opener at home for the 14th consecutive year.
• Texas A&M & Northwestern State have met seven times on the hardwood, with the Aggies leading the series 5-2 ... additionally, A&M has won the last five meetings against the Demons.
• The Aggies return four starters (Alex Caruso, Jordan Green, Antwan Space and Kourtney Roberson) and eight total letterwinners ... overall, A&M returns 61.3 percent of its scoring output from the 2013-14 campaign, highlighted by three of its top four scorers (Roberson - 9.8 ppg, Caruso - 9.0 ppg and Fitzgerald - 7.3).
• The Aggies are 118-12 (.908) all-time in non-conference games inside Reed Arena, which hosted its first basketball game in the fall of 1998.
• Head coach Billy Kennedy returns for his fourth season in Aggieland ... in his 17th overall season as a head coach, Kennedy owns a 261-228 (.534) career record ... The two-time Ohio Valley Coach of the Year has enjoyed success at previous head coaching positions at Murray State, Southeastern Louisiana and Centenary before taking his current position at A&M.
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN STATE
• The Demons are coming off a 17-14 season that saw them finish fourth in the Southland Conference standings with a 12-6 league mark ... The experienced team was picked second by the league's coaches in the Southland Conference Preseason Poll, behind defending league champion Stephen F. Austin.
• Northwestern State returns three starters and 12 total letterwinners from last season's squad ... a pair of All-Southland Conference selections highlight the list of returning players - junior guard Jalan West, who was named first team All-Southland and Southland Defensive Player of the Year after leading the Demons in scoring at 19.4 points per game, and sophomore guard Zeek Woodley, who was selected as Southland Freshman of the Year a year ago.
• Under the direction of 15th year head coach Mike McConathy, the Demons are annually regarded as one of the nation's most prolific offensive teams. Last season, Northwestern State ranked second nationally by averaging 86.6 points per game.
TEXAS A&M-NORTHWESTERN STATE SERIES (A&M LEADS 5-2)
• Friday marks the eighth time the Aggies & Demons have squared off on the hardwood ... Texas A&M holds a 5-2 lead in the all-time series.
• A&M head coach Billy Kennedy is very familiar with Northwestern State, having coaching at fellow Southland Conference school Southeastern Louisiana ... Kennedy is 7-7 all-time against the Demons.
• The most recent meeting between the two schools was on Nov. 26, 2012, when the Aggies led by 17 points from Elston Turner defeated the Demons 78-65 at Reed Arena.
• Four current Aggie players have seen action against the Northwestern State during their careers. Alex Caruso, Kyle Dobbins, Jordan Green and Kourtney Roberson all played during the last meeting in the series.
• The series dates back to 1952 when Texas A&M fell to Northwestern State 58-53 in College Station.
• In fact, the Demons won each of the first two meetings with the Aggies before Texas A&M began its current five-game winning streak in the series.
UP NEXT
Texas A&M will hit the road for the first time this season, heading to San Juan for the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, Nov. 20-23 ... the Aggies will face Dayton on Thursday during the tournament's opening round ... the Flyers are coming off an Elite Eight appearance last season ... during Friday's second round, Texas A&M will face either College of Charleston or defending National Champion Connecticut ... the Tournament concludes on Sunday.