Texas A&M
1-0
Northwestern State
0-1
Basketball Posts Dominating 109-68 Win in Season Opener
Nov 14, 2014 | Men's Basketball
COLLEGE STATION (AP)--Jalen Jones and Antwan Space scored 16 each as Texas A&M raced past Northwestern State 109-68 in the season opener for both teams on Friday night.
Jordan Green and forward Tavario Miller added 15 points each in the Aggies' most impressive opener in years.
The Aggies recorded triple digits in a contest for the first time since a five-overtime, 116-110 loss to Baylor in 2008.
A&M shot 56.8 percent from the field (42 of 74), including 47.1 percent (8 of 17) from 3-point range. A&M, which struggled rebounding under fourth-year coach Billy Kennedy in seasons past, out-rebounded the Demons 52-32.
Postgame Notes
TEAM RECORDS & SERIES NOTES
● Texas A&M begins the 2014-15 campaign 1-0, marking the 14th consecutive year they have opened a season with a victory.
● Since 1945, A&M is 59-11 (.842) in home openers.
● Texas A&M now leads the all-time series with Northwestern State 6-2 and has won six straight meetings with the Demons.
TEAM NOTES
● The Aggies started the game on a 14-4 run to force a Demon timeout at the 14:10 mark of the opening half.
● The 109-point output was the most of the Billy Kennedy era, topping a 91-point performance against Missouri Valley State on Nov. 11 of last season.
● Additionally, the 41-point win was the largest margin of victory for Texas A&M since Billy Kennedy's arrival, the previous highest margin was 33 points (88-55) against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Nov. 26, 2013.
● Texas A&M hit the 100-point mark for the first time since scoring 110 in a five-overtime loss to Baylor Jan. 2, 2008 … it was also the first time the Aggies have topped the century mark in a non-overtime game since Dec. 8, 2007, against Texas State.
● Seven Aggies tallied 10 or more points in the contest (Jones-16, Space-16, Miller-15, Green-15, Allen-12, Johnson-10 and Roberson-10), it marked the first time five or more players have reached double-digits since Nov. 15, 2012, against Prairie View A&M.
● The Aggies tallied 52 rebounds on the evening, besting the half-century mark for the first time since grabbing 51 missed baskets against Arkansas (Jan. 9, 2013) … They held a 52-32 edge in the rebounding column.
● Texas A&M used the starting line-up combination of Alex Caruso, Jordan Green, Peyton Allen, Jalen Jones and Kourtney Roberson.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
● Seven players (Peyton Allen, Juan Aparicio, Chris Collins, Avery Johnson Jr., Jalen Jones, Alex Robinson and Ramon White) made their Aggie debut in the contest … the group combined for 42 points 14 rebounds and seven assists.
● Senior Jordan Green was just one point shy of tying his career high with 15 points … his career high is 16 points set against Ole Miss on March 1, 2014 … Friday was his 10th career double-digit scoring effort.
● Sophomore Tavario Miller shattered his career-high with 15 points on 6-of-6 shooting from the floor, marking the first time he has reached double-figures ... The Bahama national's previous high was nine against LSU on Feb. 12, 2014.
● Junior Antwan Space reached his career-high in points with 15, a figure he also hit against Illinois State in the final game of last season.
● Second-year Aggie Devante Fitzgerald enjoyed his return to live action with a career-high nine rebounds; the Atlanta native returned from a serious knee injury to best his previous high of six rebounds set against Georgia on Feb. 8, 2014.
● A&M head coach Billy Kennedy is now 51-49 in his fourth season at Texas A&M and 262-228 in 17 years as a head coach.
FIRST HALF NOTES
● The Aggies put up 55 points in the first half, the most in an opening period since Nov. 12, 2010, vs. Alcorn State.
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 ... during Friday's second round, Texas A&M will face either College of Charleston or defending National Champion Connecticut ... the Tournament concludes on Sunday.
Postgame Quotes
TEXAS A&M HEAD COACH BILLY KENNEDY
Opening Statement…
“Really excited that our team came out with a defensive mindset and set the tone, limiting Jalen West. Jordan Green and Alex Caruso got us going and Kourtney Roberson provided leadership and chemistry that helped us get through this game. Peyton Allen's offensive presence, making shots and good decisions, gave us an edge. We had plenty hustle plays that gave us a good mindset.”
On the intensity of the entire game and practice tempo…
“I think it did, along with our player's leadership and maturity. We have eight or nine guys that we are going to get good focus and intensity out of every day. It starts with Jordan Green, Alex Caruso, Jalen Jones and Kourtney Roberson. They're upperclassmen and they understand the urgency. That was the most positive thing to see.”
On Jalen Jones…
“He's got a great motor, those two quick fouls limited him in the first half but he's been playing different positions for us. He's played the four the last few weeks but is capable of playing the three. He attacks the rim and when you have someone who goes after the rim like that, it encourages the team.”
On the debut of the freshmen…
“Peyton Allen was 4-of-8 with four threes, that's what we brought him in for. He doesn't hurt you on defense, shares the ball. He compliments Jordan Green and Alex Caruso on that spot. Avery Johnson pushed the ball, got it in the lane, which is something he does really well. Alex Robinson can play better but he's learning to compete and that's an adjustment that is hard for every freshman. Davonte Fitzgerald is good. All of these freshmen make shots and open up the floor for us.”
On the strength of the team on the boards…
“The great thing is we went to the offensive glass. It's not something NSU is great at and they're a small team but we really went after the glass. Davonte Fitzgerald had nine rebounds, five on offense, and that was huge for us.”
TEXAS A&M JUNIOR JALEN JONES
On his first game as an Aggie…
“It was great. It was so hard, sitting out after transferring. There were ups and downs and I wished I could have been out there helping my teammates. My time is now and I'm excited to be here.”
TEXAS A&M SENIOR JORDAN GREEN
On team's improvement over offseason…
“I think there was a lot of work put in the offseason by all of us. It started in the weight room early, 6 a.m. on Fridays. We played just like we practiced. We practice with high intensity and it really showed on the court. I don't' know how many guys got in double figures but we really shared the ball well. We're all about the team this year.”
On the quick pace and offensive domination from start to finish…
“It was fun. I think a lot of us were playing really unselfishly. We still have a long way to go but it was fun. We were on the bench talking about what we need to improve but everyone got out there and got to have an impact. It is a testament to our practices; we are high intensity the entire way. It's a change from the last year but we've really adjusted, it's high intensity the first five minutes and then high intensity the last. We work hard.”
NORTHWESTERN HEAD COACH MIKE MCCONATHY
Opening Statement…
“They came out and beat us from the beginning, they played their game. They stay with what their stuff was and they just picked us apart. It was like a snowball from there, we never could get a stop. We pressed a little bit. The difference between Saturday's scrimmage and today I didn't feel like we did that. You know, some will say we played against an SEC school today, but we have the same defensive rules and we didn't use them today. It was really downhill from there.”
Team Stats
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
