Aggies Host Arizona State Saturday Afternoon

Aggie Basketball Game #7:

Arizona State (5-2) vs. Texas A&M (5-1)

Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014 · 1 p.m. (CT)

Reed Arena (12,989) College Station, Texas

 

TV: SEC Network [Alt Channel] (For more info – 12thMan.com/TV)

  Dave Baker, Play-by-Play

  Will Perdue, Commentary

 

RADIO: Texas A&M Radio Network

  Dave South, Play-by-Play

  Mike Caruso, Commentary

  Local: WTAW 1620 AM (College Station/Bryan)

 

LIVE AUDIO/STATS: 12thMan.com

LIVE MOBILE LIVE STATS: tamustats.com

 

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COLLEGE STATION – Hosting one of its marquee non-conference contests of the season, the Texas A&M men's basketball team welcomes Arizona State to Reed Arena on Saturday for a 1 p.m. showdown.

The game will be televised nationally on the SEC Network (Alt Channel) with Dave Baker (play-by-play) and Will Perdue (commentary) calling all the action. The match-up can also be heard on the Texas A&M Sports Network with local coverage in Bryan/College Station on WTAW 1620 AM.

The Sun Devils come to Aggieland after a solid 5-2 start to the new campaign which included a 77-55 win over UNLV in Tempe, Ariz., during their most recent outing. Newcomer Gerry Blakes, who joined ASU after two seasons at San Bernardino Valley College, leads the offensive attack for the team, averaging 12.1 points per contest.

Two additional Sun Devils, forwards Eric Jacobsen (11.3) and Jonathan Gilling (11.0), also average double-digit scoring for ASU, which averaged 71.1 points per contest this season while holding its opponents to a 59.0 scoring average.

Under the tutelage of head coach Herb Sendek, who is in his ninth season at the helm of the program, the Sun Devils made a trip to the 2014 NCAA Tournament and represent six teams on Texas A&M's non-conference slate (Dayton, New Mexico, ASU, Baylor, Kansas State and Mercer) who made last season's big dance.

Texas A&M (5-1) is off to a strong start of its own this season and brings a four-game winning streak into Saturday's contest. During their most recent outing, the Aggies faced a hard-nosed Sam Houston State squad and needed a clutch 3-pointer from Danuel House in the contest's waning seconds to dispatch the scrappy Bearkats, 66-63.

House has been an important offensive piece for the Aggies since joining the squad two weeks ago as the Fresno, Texas, native contributed 41 points in three games to lead the squad in scoring at 13.7 points per game.

Fellow newcomer Jalen Jones continues to give A&M a workman-like effort on a consistent basis as, in addition pacing the team in rebounding at 6.7 boards per game, Jones has reached double-digit scoring in five of six games this season.

The Aggie team defensive focus has been displayed through the opening month of the season as A&M is limiting opponents to 58.7 points per contest and just 36.1 percent shooting from the floor. No team has shot better than 37.3 percent against A&M this fall with the Aggies forcing at least 16 turnovers in each contest.

 

QUICK HITS

• Texas A&M hosts one of its biggest non-conference games of the season Saturday when Arizona State comes to Aggieland for a 1 p.m. (CT). contest.

• The Sun Devils represent one of six 2014 NCAA Tournament teams on the Aggies 2014-15 non-conference schedule and stand out as the first team from a "power five" conference to visit Reed Arena for a non-conference tilt since Washington on Dec. 11, 2010.

• Solid team defense has been the Aggies' calling card during Billy Kennedy's tenure and this season is no different ... in six games this season, A&M has held its opponents to a .361 shooting percentage including a .260 percentage from 3-point range.

• Despite scoring his lowest point total in three games since joining the team (nine points), junior guard Danuel House made the biggest impact on the outcome of the Aggies' most recent outing ... House hit a 3-pointer with 3.3 seconds remaining in a tie game to give the Aggies a 66-63 victory over Sam Houston State Wednesday night.

• Junior forward Jalen Jones continues to be one of the Aggies' most steady performers this season, against the Bearkats Jones contributed 10 points to hit the double-digit point mark for the fifth time in six games this season.

• Senior Kourtney Roberson scored seven points after halftime against SHSU, finishing with team-highs in points (13) and rebounds (8).

 

SERIES HISTORY VS. ARIZONA STATE (ASU LEADS 4-0)

• Texas A&M trails the all-time series with Arizona State 4-0.

• The first meeting between the schools occurred on Dec. 27, 1987, when the Sun Devils earned 79-73 win during the Rainbow Classic in Honolulu, Hawai'i.

• Most recently, Arizona State made the trip to Aggieland and G. Rollie White Coliseum on Dec. 19, 1998 ... ASU earned a hard-fought 96-91 victory over A&M in triple overtime.

• Shanne Jones scored 26 points to lead the Aggies in the most recent meeting ... joining Jones is double-digit scoring were Jerald Brown (19 points), Clifton Cook (16) and Chris Clayton (14).

• Texas A&M head coach Billy Kennedy has never faced ASU as a head coach but did square off against the Sun Devils while serving as an assistant coach at Cal (1993-97).

 

UP NEXT

After a two-year hiatus, the Battle of the Brazos returns to the hardwood on Tuesday night as the Aggies travel to Waco, Texas, to battle Baylor in an 8 p.m. contest ... the game will be televised nationally on ESPN2.

 

CARUSO NAMED TO COUSY AWARD WATCH LIST

Junior Alex Caruso has been recognized nationally as he was named to the watch list for the 2015 Bob Cousy Award, which is presented annually to the top point guard in college basketball.

The initial watch list of candidates for the Cousy Award will be narrowed down from 35 to 20 in early February, before thinning to a final five in early March. The winner will be announced on Championship Monday in Indianapolis at the Hall of Fame's Class of 2015 announcement and press conference.

Texas A&M is no stranger to the Cousy Award as Aggie standout Acie Law IV garnered the accolade in 2007. Joining Law on the list of previous winners are Jameer Nelson (St. Joseph's), Raymond Felton (North Carolina), Dee Brown (Illinois), DJ Augustin (Texas), Ty Lawson (North Carolina), Greivis Vasquez (Maryland), Kemba Walker (Connecticut), Kendall Marshall (North Carolina), Trey Burke (Michigan) and last year's winner Shabazz Napier (Connecticut).

In addition to Caruso, the SEC placed four other players on the watch list - Kasey Hill (Florida), Andrew Harrison (Kentucky), Tyler Ulis (Kentucky) and Jarvis Summers (Ole Miss).

 

TEXAS A&M BAHAMAS-BOUND TO BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS IN 2015

ESPN announced on Nov. 28 that the Texas A&M men's basketball team will join an impressive field at next year's Battle 4 Atlantis, which will take place at Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas, Nov. 25-27, 2015.

Joining the Aggies for Thanksgiving in the Bahamas next season will be Charlotte, Connecticut, Gonzaga, Michigan, Syracuse, Texas and Washington.