No. 5 Seed Men Open SEC Tourney Play Thursday vs. Auburn

NASHVILLE – The fifth-seeded Texas A&M basketball team opens play in the SEC Tournament on Thursday at approximately 2:30 p.m. (CDT) as the Aggies face No. 13 seed Auburn.

Thursday's contest will be nationally televised on SEC Network with Brad Nessler calling the play-by-play and Sean Farnham providing color commentary. Additionally, radio coverage will be provided on the Aggie Sports Network, which can be heard locally in the Bryan/College Station area on WTAW (1620 AM). 

 

 

 

The Tigers defeated Mississippi State 74-68 on Wednesday during the tournament's opening round to earn the second-round match-up against A&M, which received an opening round bye. During the regular season, the Aggies defeated Auburn twice.

Texas A&M looks to enhance its resume this week as the Aggies push for the program's first NCAA Tournament berth since 2011. A&M arrived in Nashville with its highest seed in the event since joining the league prior to the 2012-13 season.

 

TEXAS A&M IN CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS

• The Aggies are 23-37 all-time conference tournaments, spanning previous affiliations with the Southwest Conference (1915-96) and Big 12 Conference (1997-2012) ... A&M held an all-time record of 16-19 in SWC Tournament games and a 6-16 mark in Big 12 Tourney games ... In two appearances at the SEC Tournament, A&M is 1-2.

• Texas A&M has claimed two postseason tournament championships - 1980 and 1987, both under the direction of former head coach Shelby Metcalf.

• A&M has advanced to the championship game of a postseason conference tournament five times - 1976, 1980, 1986, 1987 and 1994.

• Two seasons ago, the Aggies played in their first SEC Tournament at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena ... A&M defeated Auburn 71-62 in the opening round before falling to Missouri 62-50 in the second round.

• Last year, A&M earned an opening round bye before dropping a 91-83 double-overtime heartbreaker to Missouri during the second round of the SEC Tournament inside the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

• In postseason conference tournament play, Texas A&M has faced Arkansas six times (2-4), Missouri five times (1-4) and Auburn once (1-0).

• A&M head coach Billy Kennedy holds a 12-10 record in conference tournament play, including championships in 2005 (Southland Conference - SE Louisiana) and 2010 (Ohio Valley Conference - Murray State).