Saturday, March 5
College Station
11:00 AM
Texas A&M
vs
Vanderbilt
Photo by: Texas A&M Athletics
Aggies Play for a Championship Saturday vs. Vandy
Mar 04, 2016 | Men's Basketball
Aggie Basketball Game #31:
Vanderbilt (19-11; 11-6 SEC) at #20/18 Texas A&M (23-7; 12-5 SEC)
Saturday, March 5, 2016 · 11:00 a.m. (CT)
Reed Arena (12,989) · College Station, Texas
TV: ESPN2 (For more info – 12thMan.com/TV)
Mark Jones, Play-by-Play
Kara Lawson Barling, Commentary
RADIO: Texas A&M Radio Network
Dave South, Play-by-Play
Al Pulliam, Commentary
Local: WTAW 1620 AM (Bryan/College Station)
Satellite: Sirius (Ch. 132) / XM (Ch. 191)
LIVE AUDIO/STATS: 12thMan.com
LIVE MOBILE LIVE STATS: tamustats.com
--
COLLEGE STATION – An SEC title is on the line Saturday inside Reed Arena when No. 20 Texas A&M hosts Vanderbilt at 11 a.m. in the Aggies' regular season finale.
Texas A&M is tied atop the SEC standings alongside Kentucky with matching 12-5 league records going into the season's final day, meaning a win would clinch A&M's first conference title since the 1986 Aggies shared the Southwest Conference crown.
If both Texas A&M (23-7; 12-5 SEC) and Kentucky (22-8; 12-5 SEC) win on Saturday, the two schools would share the 2016 SEC title, however, Texas A&M would be the top seed at next week's SEC Tournament in Nashville by virtue of their head-to-head victory over the Wildcats.
Neither the Aggies nor Wildcats have an easy path to the title as they each face a team that is just a game back in the standings and within striking distance of making their own claim on a share of the league championship. Both Vanderbilt (19-11; 11-6 SEC) and LSU (18-12; 11-6 SEC), which play at Kentucky at 2 p.m., bring an 11-6 SEC record into the weekend with aspirations of road victories that set up a four-way share of the conference title.
All of the action inside Reed Arena will be televised to a national audience on ESPN2 with Mark Jones calling the play-by-play and Kara Lawson Barling 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).
Saturday's game will also mark the final appearance at Reed Arena for seven members of the Aggie Basketball family as six players (Juan Aparicio, Alex Caruso, Anthony Collins, Kyle Dobbins, Danuel House and Jalen Jones) as well as one manager (John Evans) will take part in their final game in front of the 12th Man.
The group has played in 316 games during their time in Aggieland, contributing 2,864 points while wearing the Maroon & White. During the last four seasons, the Aggies have averaged 20 wins per season.
The Aggies will be seeking to avenge a 77-60 loss to the Commodores in Nashville earlier this season on Feb. 4. Texas A&M was led in scoring by sophomore Tonny Trocha-Morelos' 13 points but could not overcome a blistering shooting afternoon by the 'Dores, who shot 51 percent for the game and converted 13 3-point baskets.
Vanderbilt has stood out as one of the SEC's hottest teams recently and comes to Aggieland riding a four-game winning streak that has left many national prognosticators projecting the Commodores to make the NCAA Tournament.
OPENING TIPS
• Texas A&M will play for at least a share of the 2016 SEC Championship Saturday as the Aggies host Vanderbilt inside Reed Arena ... The Aggies enter the regular season's final day atop the SEC standings alongside Kentucky with a 12-5 league ledger (The Wildcats host LSU on Saturday) ... Both LSU and Vanderbilt also remain in contention for the league crown at 11-6 in SEC play, just a game back of Texas A&M and Kentucky.• An Aggie win would give Texas A&M its first conference regular season title since the 1985-86 Aggies shared the Southwest Conference title with Texas and TCU.
• Texas A&M brings a five-game winning streak into Saturday's affair, marking the third time this season A&M has won five or more consecutive contests.
• Tuesday's win at Auburn left A&M's record in road SEC games at 5-4, making the Aggies the only team who will finish the conference season with a winning record away from home.
• In his last four games, senior Anthony Collins has dished out 19 assists against just four turnovers (4.8 assist-to-turnover ratio).
• Already A&M's all-time steals leader with 263 career take-aways, senior Alex Caruso became Texas A&M's all-time assist leader during last Saturday's win at Missouri ... His assist on Danuel House's made 3-pointer at the 13:19 mark of the first period overtook former record holder David Edwards, who notched 602 assists from 1991-94 ... Caruso now has 613 dimes during his four-year career.
REED ARENA SUCCESS
• The Aggies are 16-1 on their home court this year and are now 224-77 (.744) all time in 18 seasons at Reed Arena ... the Aggies were 41-41 the first six years at Reed and are 183-36 since.• In the last three seasons, Texas A&M is 47-8 (.855) on its home floor.
• A&M has won 93 of its last 109 home games against unranked opponents (37 of last 49 in league play).
• Texas A&M is 9-0 in non-conference games at Reed Arena this season ... the Aggies are 136-13 (.913) all-time in non-conference games inside the facility, which hosted its first basketball game in the fall of 1998 ... a loss to Rice on Dec. 22, 2011, snapped A&M's 67-game non-conference home win streak at Reed Arena (which dated back to the start of the 2005-06 season) and 80-game regular-season, non-conference home win streak (which dated back to 2003), both school records.
AGGIES BUILDING AN IMPRESSIVE POST-SEASON RESUME
Texas A&M is building a case to not only make a sixth appearance in the NCAA Tournament in the last 11 seasons but highlight the March Madness field as a high seed. Tasked with quite possibly the toughest non-conference schedule in school history as well as a run through the gauntlet of SEC play, the Aggies have responded and are currently 4-0 against opponents ranked in the top 25 of the NCAA's Daily RPI Report (3/4).The Aggies are currently ranked 20th in the NCAA RPI.
Here's a look at the Aggies' showings vs. Top 25 RPI opponents this season...
Texas A&M vs. Top 25 RPI Opponents (4-0)
Date Opponent* Score Opp Current RPI^
Nov. 25 Texas W, 84-73 23
Dec. 19 #16 Baylor W, 80-61 24
Jan. 30 #14 Iowa State W, 72-62 19
Feb. 20 #14 Kentucky W, 79-77 (OT) 13
* - AP rankings at game time ^ - NCAA RPI Report (3/4)
UP NEXT
The Aggies are Nashville-bound for the 2016 SEC Tournament which will be held at Bridgestone Arena March 9-13 … Texas A&M has already clinched a double-bye at the event and will play its first game on Friday, March 11.HONORING AGGIE SENIORS POST-GAME
Immediately following Saturday's game, Texas A&M men's basketball will honor its six senior players (Juan Aparicio, Alex Caruso, Anthony Collins, Kyle Dobbins, Danuel House and Jalen Jones) as well as one senior manager (John Evans) on the court. Fans are encouraged to stay in their seats and off the court in accordance with SEC regulations as we pay tribute to the outstanding contributions these young men have made to Aggie Basketball.REED ARENA PARKING INFO
With the large crowd expected at Reed Arena as well as spectators arriving early for Saturday's baseball game at Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park (2 p.m.), fans are reminded that pregame and postgame traffic around Reed Arena may be more congested than it has been in the recent past and they should plan to arrive early for the game.Fans are encouraged to visit http://transport.tamu.edu/parking/events/da.aspx or download the Destination Aggieland App for the best information on campus traffic as well as the best routes to and from Reed Arena. Real-time traffic updates will also be provided via Twitter: @GetToAggieGame.
STUDENT TICKET INFO: VANDERBILT
• The traditional student sections behind both goals have been reserved for students for the Vanderbilt game. Students should arrive at Reed Arena early to ensure they will have a seat.• Reed Rowdies can enter the arena beginning at 9:30 a.m. for the game. Regular student entry begins at 9:45 a.m.
• Students can enter at the North or South Doors marked for student entry.
• To be admitted at the student entry, students must be currently registered and have purchased a Student Sports Pass in the Fall.
• Students MUST present their Texas A&M Student ID to be swiped for admission.
• Maps showing designated Student Seating will be posted in the Arena. All student seating is general admission.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G/F
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's BasketballMedia Availability: Bucky McMillan
Thursday, July 24
Pluckers Playmakers: Episode 4
Thursday, May 01
Introductory Press Conference: Bucky McMillan
Monday, April 07
Welcome to Aggieland: Bucky McMillan
Monday, April 07
