Texas A&M
2-4
South Alabama
3-3
Flagg Sparks Aggies in Victory Over South Alabama
Nov 23, 2018 | Men's Basketball
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Texas A&M could not be happier to be home on Thanksgiving weekend.
"That was a rough trip for us," forward Savion Flagg said of the Aggies' winless three-game West Coast swing prior to arriving back at Reed Arena.
Flagg scored a game-high 25 points and A&M snapped a four-game losing streak with a 74-62 victory over South Alabama on Friday night.
"We've been fighting hard and getting better every game, but it's good to get a win, to reward the players," said A&M coach Billy Kennedy, who won his 350th career game.
The Aggies (2-4) trailed by four a little more than midway through the first half before closing on a tear against the outsized Jaguars (3-3). A&M outscored South Alabama 26-6 over the final nine minutes to grab a 43-27 halftime lead, one the Aggies wouldn't come close to relinquishing.
"We don't take anyone lightly," Kennedy said. "We're not mature enough or talented enough to take anyone lightly."
Flagg did much of the work himself in the first half, scoring 19 points over the first 20 minutes by making 9-of-11 from the field. Flagg was emotional afterward, and said he was playing through the pain of a cousin, Devin Taylor, dying Thursday night as the result of a motorcycle accident near Houston, and the recent passing of his grandmother.
Texas A&M Basketball Postgame Notes
Texas A&M 74, South Alabama 62
Reed Arena (College Station Texas)
ABOUT THE GAME
- Texas A&M improved to 2-4 with a 74-62 win over South Alabama on Friday night at Reed Arena.
- The Aggies are now 3-1 all-time against the Jaguars. Prior to Friday, the last meeting between the two teams was a 76-61 win A&M win in 1994 in Mobile, Alabama.
- The victory marked the 250th program in Texas A&M program history in Reed Arena and Billy Kennedy's 350th career win as a head coach.
TEAM NOTES
- The Aggies used a 15-2 run to position themselves for a then-game-high 16-point advantage at the half. They were an impressive 15-for-25 from the floor in the opening period, holding a 17-0 advantage on points off turnovers and 24-6 margin in the paint.
- The Maroon & White maintained a steady advantage in rebounding on the night, corralling 37 boards to just 22 for the Jaguars. Additionally, the Aggies pulled down 10 offensive rebounds, leading to 16 second-chance points.
- Texas A&M used the starting lineup combination of TJ Starks, Brandon Mahan, Jay Jay Chandler, Savion Flagg and Christian Mekowulu for the fourth time this season (1-3).
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Sophomore Savion Flagg topped his season average in scoring in the first 20 minutes against the Jaguars. Flagg put up 19 points before the break and finished the night with a career-high 25 points on 12-for-15 scoring to lead the Aggies for the third time this season.
- Junior Josh Nebo recorded seven blocks on the night, matching the third-most by an Aggie in a single game in program history. Nebo also paced the A&M in rebounding for the second time this season, pulling down seven boards on the night.
- Sophomore TJ Starks scored in double-figures for the fifth time this season and fourth straight game. He added 13 points to go along with three assists in 31 minutes of action.
- Senior Christian Mekowulu scored the first eight points of the night for the Aggies, finishing with 12 points against South Alabama. It marked the second time the grad transfer has done so in an A&M uniform.
- Billy Kennedy is now 139-102 in his eight-year tenure at Texas A&M and 350-281 in his 21 seasons as a head coach.
UP NEXT
- The Aggies remain home as they host Northwestern State (Dec. 3) & Boston College (Dec. 8) at Reed Arena. Tickets are available here.
Postgame Quotes
Head Coach Billy Kennedy's opening statement…
"It's good to get a win. I thought we really played hard and we try to get better every game. I figure we've gotten better every game, but it's good to get a win so I can have a feeling of rewarding, too."
On Savion [Flagg]'s emotions and adversity…
"Savion and a number of our guys has been through some tough times and some terrible situations. I didn't know how he'd adapt or adjust, but he did a really good job in playing through it. We need him to play like that every night. Just like that, aggressive offensively and attacking the basket."
On [Savion Flagg's] teammates rallying behind him…
"We knew he was upset earlier today. And our guys were sensitive and stepped up for him and were very supportive of him throughout the day. He didn't have to be by himself all day with some teammates around him being there to support him."
On playing Savion [Flagg] tonight considering his recent loses…
"I was watching just to see how he was playing and how he was emotionally. He was engaged. He got upset after the end of the first half, my coaches told me at the end of the first half. But he got back in and he was very aggressive on the court. He had two or three of those situations realized. He's been through a lot of different tough times. He forced a game win and something positive happened."
Sophomore Guard Jay Jay Chandler
On getting the win for Savion Flagg's cousin…
"It was big. It's been rough for a few players on the team, but we have just been sticking together every day. And just making our lost ones proud by going out there and playing the game that they used to watch loving us play."
On breaking the losing streak…
"Canada was pretty tough for us, but we are getting there. We are getting back to Texas A&M basketball. We won the game and we just have to keep doing it and keep working."
Sophomore Guard Savion Flagg
On having a highly productive game…
"I think they were a really good team, their scheme was really good they played at a high level. I had some stuff going on this morning, my cousin passed, so that was my motivation for this game."
On his motivation for the game…
"My cousin, Devin Taylor (28 years old) passed away in a motorcycle accident, and my grandma passed away about a week ago. It has been tough but I just play for them."
On playing with such a heavy heart…
"I just know that they would want me to play and not be sad about it. Just play my hardest and just glorify myself through them."
Josh Nebo Junior Forward
On getting the win for Savion Flagg's cousin…
"It's tough hearing that, when a close family member has passed. [Savion] is our brother and we love him so we play for him and support him through the highs and lows. And just be there for him, encouraging him."
On getting the win after a losing streak…
"It was important, the trip was pretty tough for us as a team. We felt like we were very close to breaking through in the past couple of games and we just couldn't finish it out. So today, it was nice to break the losing streak and get a win, one win at a time. We just continue to stay together as a team."
On his many blocks…
"I was just trying to help my teammates to get on the dribble and be there for them because they expect me to do that. I feel like it is my job to help them and just be there for them."
Gig 'em & good night ??
— Texas A&M Basketball (@aggiembk) November 24, 2018
Ags get back in the win column!
See you Dec 3rd for Northwestern St!
??? https://t.co/9FtIzT8g1V #ConfettiDreams #GigEm pic.twitter.com/ouBhpXIJeD
Congrats to @Coach_Kennedy on securing his 350th career win!#ConfettiDreams #GigEm pic.twitter.com/Aqxb1sihri
— Texas A&M Basketball (@aggiembk) November 24, 2018
Count 'em up, count 'em up
— Texas A&M Basketball (@aggiembk) November 24, 2018
Ags pick up program win #??2??5??0?? in @ReedArena history.#ConfettiDreams #GigEm pic.twitter.com/Rz0s8oICvM
"We gotta keep getting better..."@Mekowulu21 (12 pts, 8rebs) on the mindset moving forward #ConfettiDreams #GigEm pic.twitter.com/Se5JEodhCi
— Texas A&M Basketball (@aggiembk) November 24, 2018
NEBO SAYS NO SIR ????@Joshnebo finished with 7 blocks on the night, good for t-3rd most in a single game in school history!#ConfettiDreams #GigEm pic.twitter.com/ya7IIGJ618
— Texas A&M Basketball (@aggiembk) November 24, 2018
Watch us work ??
— Texas A&M Basketball (@aggiembk) November 24, 2018
Top stat lines from the W:
?? @__hvmble 25p/3r/2a/1s
?? @teedino_ 13p/3a/1s
?? @Mekowulu21 12p/8r/1b
?? @Joshnebo 7p/7r/7b#ConfettiDreams #GigEm pic.twitter.com/HmvudeyyCV
