Friday, November 11
College Station
8:00 PM
Texas A&M
1-0
72
vs
44
Northwestern State
0-1
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern State | 21 | 23 | 44 |
| Texas A&M | 33 | 39 | 72 |
Photo by: Thomas Campbell/Texas A&M Athletics
SEC Champs Dominate Northwestern State in Season Opener, 72-44
Nov 11, 2016 | Men's Basketball
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP)-- Tyler Davis tallied game highs with 16 points and 10 rebounds and fellow big man Tonny Trocha-Morelos added 11 points as Texas A&M overpowered Northwestern State for a 72-44 victory on Friday night to open the season.
The Aggies dominated inside, outscoring the Demons 42-8 in the paint. The game's outcome was never in doubt, as A&M quickly built on a 12-point halftime lead, and had more than doubled up the Demons at 57-28 about halfway through the second half. A&M shot 46 percent (28 of 61) from the field, while holding NSU to 28 percent (12 of 43).
The Demons were led by Zeek Woodley's 10 points, and Ishmael Lane added eight points.
The Aggies led 33-21 at the break, thanks largely to shutting down the Demons 18-0 in the paint over the first 20 minutes. A crowd pleaser occurred with about 12 minutes remaining in the game, when A&M guard Admon Gilder tossed an alley oop to dynamic freshman forward Robert Williams, who snagged the pass a foot above the rim and slammed it home for a 55-28 A&M lead.
Texas A&M Basketball
Postgame Notes
Texas A&M 72, Northwestern State 44
Nov. 11, 2016 ? Reed Arena
RECORDS & SERIES NOTES
- Texas A&M christened the 2016-17 season with a 72-44 victory over Northwestern State Friday night inside Reed Arena.
- The Aggies opened the season with a win for the 16th consecutive season as well as earning a victory for their 17th consecutive home opener… Since 1945, Texas A&M is 48-23 during its first tilt of the season.
- A&M now leads the all-time series with Northwestern State, 7-2, and has won seven straight meetings with the Demons.
TEAM NOTES
- Texas A&M put the game away with a 31-5 run from the 18:12 mark of the second half until 6:53 left, building a 36-point advantage, 66-30
- The Aggies shot 45.9 percent (28-of-61) from the floor while limiting the Demons to just 27.9 percent shooting (12-of-43).
- A&M owned a 33-21 halftime advantage, led by 10 points from Davis.
- Texas A&M used the starting lineup combination of JC Hampton, Admon Gilder, DJ Hogg, Tonny Trocha-Morelos and Tyler Davis for the first time this season (1-0).
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Sophomore Tyler Davis collected his third career double-double in the contest, finishing with a game-high 16 points and 10 rebounds.
- In addition to scoring six points and pulling down seven rebounds, freshman Robert Williams blocked a game-high five shots … It stood out as the first five-block game for an Aggie since Keith Davis accomplished the feat on Dec. 7, 2011, against Sam Houston State.
- Texas A&M head coach Billy Kennedy won his 100th contest as the head coach of the Aggies, improving to 100-70 in his sixth season at A&M and 311-249 in 19 years as a head coach.
- Only Shelby Metcalf (438 from 1963-90) has won more games as Texas A&M's men's basketball coach than Kennedy.
- Five Aggies made their Texas A&M debuts in the contest – Freshman Chase Carlton, Caleb Smith, Robert Williams and Eric Vila as well as graduate senior transfer JC Hampton.
UP NEXT
- Texas A&M returns to the court at Reed Arena on Monday night when it hosts American University. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. with the game streaming live on SEC Network PLUS.
Texas A&M Basketball
Postgame Quotes
Texas A&M 72, Northwestern State 44
Nov. 11, 2016 ? Reed Arena
TEXAS A&M HEAD COACH BILLY KENNEDY
Opening Statement…
"It was a good first game for us. Northwestern did some things we weren't ready for in the first half. In the second half, we adjusted. I was pleased that we didn't panic and jack-up shots. We had good poise."
On second half performance...
"In the second half, I think we made some adjustments in attacking their press. The key was that we didn't make freshman mistakes in both halves. We were able to figure it out. I think our guards did a better job of attacking instead of playing back on their heels and we got some transition buckets. Our defense was solid to hold them to 28% from the field."
On defense...
"They made some tough, deep shots and threes at the end of the clock to keep it close, but we were able to make the lead 12 [at the half]. We were able to go into halftime with a double-digit lead which gave us some comfort and confidence too. Tyler (Davis) is a load around the basket especially against teams that are smaller. You could see from the beginning of the game how good he was for us. Tonny (Trocha-Morelos) also came out in the second half and was a presence."
TEXAS A&M SOPHOMORE TYLER DAVIS
On the gameplan…
"We knew we had the size advantage. We were just playing to our strengths this game and trying to execute. We were running our offense and seeing what we could do this game"
Inside presence..
"I expect great things out of my teammates. It's our job to go out there and win the paint every night. We have to dominate the boards, dominate the glass and make the other team pay when they come into the paint. We can be dominant when we work hard every game. We have work to do for sure, but we are going to get better every game."
TEXAS A&M JUNIOR TONNY TROCHA-MORELOS
Oh his type of game...
"I'm not as big as Tyler, so I have to use my strengths and my strength is running hard and that's what I have to do to get the offense set. When you run hard you make the defense come back and guard you inside and it allows the offense to get the three-point shot. I know we didn't shoot as well today, but it's the first game. Everybody was excited and we know these guys can make threes."
On being a veteran player...
"It feels great. You have an opportunity to show people that we are capable of doing what the guys before us did and maybe even better. We just have to work hard and show them that we are here to play basketball. That's what we do in practice and whatever we show in practice we show in the game too."
NORTHWESTERN STATE HEAD COACH MIKE MCCONATHY
Opening Statement…
"I felt like we competed pretty well in the first half, but the second half was just too much. We can't play fast against a team too long. The long shots brought out the long rebounds and I don't know what the (Texas A&M) scoring run was there at the beginning of the second half, but it was pretty substantial. We don't play very well playing that style but you have to play that way against a talented teams even though that's not something anybody wants to see. A 28-point loss is a 28-point loss, but when they hand 120 on you it doesn't look very good. We did the best we could. Their strength of rebounding and pounding the ball inside is a trademark of Coach Kennedy. They did a phenomenal job with that defense and it's impressive to see what they do."
The Aggies dominated inside, outscoring the Demons 42-8 in the paint. The game's outcome was never in doubt, as A&M quickly built on a 12-point halftime lead, and had more than doubled up the Demons at 57-28 about halfway through the second half. A&M shot 46 percent (28 of 61) from the field, while holding NSU to 28 percent (12 of 43).
The Demons were led by Zeek Woodley's 10 points, and Ishmael Lane added eight points.
The Aggies led 33-21 at the break, thanks largely to shutting down the Demons 18-0 in the paint over the first 20 minutes. A crowd pleaser occurred with about 12 minutes remaining in the game, when A&M guard Admon Gilder tossed an alley oop to dynamic freshman forward Robert Williams, who snagged the pass a foot above the rim and slammed it home for a 55-28 A&M lead.
Texas A&M Basketball
Postgame Notes
Texas A&M 72, Northwestern State 44
Nov. 11, 2016 ? Reed Arena
RECORDS & SERIES NOTES
- Texas A&M christened the 2016-17 season with a 72-44 victory over Northwestern State Friday night inside Reed Arena.
- The Aggies opened the season with a win for the 16th consecutive season as well as earning a victory for their 17th consecutive home opener… Since 1945, Texas A&M is 48-23 during its first tilt of the season.
- A&M now leads the all-time series with Northwestern State, 7-2, and has won seven straight meetings with the Demons.
TEAM NOTES
- Texas A&M put the game away with a 31-5 run from the 18:12 mark of the second half until 6:53 left, building a 36-point advantage, 66-30
- The Aggies shot 45.9 percent (28-of-61) from the floor while limiting the Demons to just 27.9 percent shooting (12-of-43).
- A&M owned a 33-21 halftime advantage, led by 10 points from Davis.
- Texas A&M used the starting lineup combination of JC Hampton, Admon Gilder, DJ Hogg, Tonny Trocha-Morelos and Tyler Davis for the first time this season (1-0).
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Sophomore Tyler Davis collected his third career double-double in the contest, finishing with a game-high 16 points and 10 rebounds.
- In addition to scoring six points and pulling down seven rebounds, freshman Robert Williams blocked a game-high five shots … It stood out as the first five-block game for an Aggie since Keith Davis accomplished the feat on Dec. 7, 2011, against Sam Houston State.
- Texas A&M head coach Billy Kennedy won his 100th contest as the head coach of the Aggies, improving to 100-70 in his sixth season at A&M and 311-249 in 19 years as a head coach.
- Only Shelby Metcalf (438 from 1963-90) has won more games as Texas A&M's men's basketball coach than Kennedy.
- Five Aggies made their Texas A&M debuts in the contest – Freshman Chase Carlton, Caleb Smith, Robert Williams and Eric Vila as well as graduate senior transfer JC Hampton.
UP NEXT
- Texas A&M returns to the court at Reed Arena on Monday night when it hosts American University. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. with the game streaming live on SEC Network PLUS.
Texas A&M Basketball
Postgame Quotes
Texas A&M 72, Northwestern State 44
Nov. 11, 2016 ? Reed Arena
TEXAS A&M HEAD COACH BILLY KENNEDY
Opening Statement…
"It was a good first game for us. Northwestern did some things we weren't ready for in the first half. In the second half, we adjusted. I was pleased that we didn't panic and jack-up shots. We had good poise."
On second half performance...
"In the second half, I think we made some adjustments in attacking their press. The key was that we didn't make freshman mistakes in both halves. We were able to figure it out. I think our guards did a better job of attacking instead of playing back on their heels and we got some transition buckets. Our defense was solid to hold them to 28% from the field."
"They made some tough, deep shots and threes at the end of the clock to keep it close, but we were able to make the lead 12 [at the half]. We were able to go into halftime with a double-digit lead which gave us some comfort and confidence too. Tyler (Davis) is a load around the basket especially against teams that are smaller. You could see from the beginning of the game how good he was for us. Tonny (Trocha-Morelos) also came out in the second half and was a presence."
TEXAS A&M SOPHOMORE TYLER DAVIS
On the gameplan…
"We knew we had the size advantage. We were just playing to our strengths this game and trying to execute. We were running our offense and seeing what we could do this game"
"I expect great things out of my teammates. It's our job to go out there and win the paint every night. We have to dominate the boards, dominate the glass and make the other team pay when they come into the paint. We can be dominant when we work hard every game. We have work to do for sure, but we are going to get better every game."
Oh his type of game...
"I'm not as big as Tyler, so I have to use my strengths and my strength is running hard and that's what I have to do to get the offense set. When you run hard you make the defense come back and guard you inside and it allows the offense to get the three-point shot. I know we didn't shoot as well today, but it's the first game. Everybody was excited and we know these guys can make threes."
"It feels great. You have an opportunity to show people that we are capable of doing what the guys before us did and maybe even better. We just have to work hard and show them that we are here to play basketball. That's what we do in practice and whatever we show in practice we show in the game too."
NORTHWESTERN STATE HEAD COACH MIKE MCCONATHY
Opening Statement…
"I felt like we competed pretty well in the first half, but the second half was just too much. We can't play fast against a team too long. The long shots brought out the long rebounds and I don't know what the (Texas A&M) scoring run was there at the beginning of the second half, but it was pretty substantial. We don't play very well playing that style but you have to play that way against a talented teams even though that's not something anybody wants to see. A 28-point loss is a 28-point loss, but when they hand 120 on you it doesn't look very good. We did the best we could. Their strength of rebounding and pounding the ball inside is a trademark of Coach Kennedy. They did a phenomenal job with that defense and it's impressive to see what they do."
Team Stats
NWST
TAMU
FG%
.279
.459
3FG%
.385
.208
FT%
.625
.500
RB
29
46
TO
18
12
STL
7
7
Game Leaders
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
F
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