Thursday, March 22
Los Angeles, Calif.
6:30 p.m.
Texas A&M
72
vs
99
Michigan
Photo by: Thomas Campbell/Texas A&M Athletics
Men's Basketball Season Ends in NCAA Sweet 16
Mar 22, 2018 | Men's Basketball
LOS ANGELES (AP)--After reaching the NCAA Tournament's round of 16 with an improbable buzzer-beater, Michigan shot 62 percent from the floor and routed Texas A&M 99-72 in the West Region semifinals on Thursday night to reach the Elite Eight for the third time in six years.
Next up the Wolverines will face either No. 4 Gonzaga or No. 9 Florida State who met in the second regional semifinal.
The Wolverines (31-7) dominated from start to finish, hitting 14 3-pointers -- 10 in the first half -- and extending their winning streak to 12 games.
Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman scored 24 points, Moe Wagner added 21 points and Charles Matthews had 18 points as third-seeded Michigan had five players in double figures.
"My shot went in early and it gives you the confidence to take the next one," Abdur-Rahkman said. "I think everyone had that confidence today."
Abdur-Rahkman made four 3-pointers and both of his free throws, and had five rebounds and seven assists.
"This senior right here played his tail off in every single way," Michigan coach John Beilein said. "This is like a great example of a great college basketball player that can play afterwards, too."
The Wolverines were good in the first half and even better in the second. The rout was on by halftime with Michigan leading 52-28 after shooting 57 percent from the floor. In the second half, the Wolverines improved to 68 percent from the floor.
"We are on a business trip, and we still have business to take of," Abdur-Rahkman said.
The Aggies (22-13) never made a run, going long stretches without a basket in the first half while Michigan was scoring on nearly every trip down the floor.
Tyler Davis led the seventh-seeded Aggies with 24 points.
Michigan won its second round game to reach the Sweet 16 on freshman Jordan Poole's long 3 at the buzzer against Houston.
Against the Aggies, Michigan led by 29 points after an 8-0 run near the end of the first half. The Wolverines averaged nine 3-pointers per game coming in and exceeded that by the break.
Michigan held the Aggies to 12-of-32 shooting from the floor by double-teaming A&M and getting hands in shooters' faces.
The Wolverines had 12 steals in the game, led by Zavier Simpson with six.
The Aggies committed 10 of their 14 turnovers in the first half, including five by T.J. Starks.
They improved to 57 percent shooting in the second half, but it didn't make any difference when the Aggies couldn't come close to reducing their deficit to single digits.
RECORDS / SERIES NOTES
? No. 7 seed Texas A&M's season came to an end after a 99-72 defeat to No. 3 seed Michigan in the Sweet 16 of the 2018 NCAA Tournament … the 2018 appearance marked the fifth Sweet 16 appearance for the Maroon & White (Sixth trip to the Round of 16).
? The Aggies fell to 0-2 all-time against the Wolverines, Michigan claimed the previous matchup between the two schools, 82-79, in Houston, Texas on Dec. 22, 1962.
TEXAS A&M IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
? With the defeat, the Aggies are 13-15 all-time in 14 appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
? A&M head coach Billy Kennedy is 5-4 as a head coach during four appearances in the NCAA Tournament … Kennedy's four victories in the NCAA Tournament at Texas A&M are the most by an Aggie head coach, passing former A&M coaches Shelby Metcalf, Billy Gillispie and Mark Turgeon (3).
TEAM NOTES
? Texas A&M shot 32-for-67 from the floor on the night, but were just 3-for-15 from the 3-point line against the Wolverines … conversely, Michigan was 14-for-24 from behind the arc, converting nine of their first 14 attempts from deep.
? The Aggies owned a 33-28 rebounding advantage on the night, their 26th time this season that the Maroon & White have outrebounded their opponent.
? Texas A&M outscored the Maize & Gold 56-46 in the paint.
? Michigan owned a 52-28 first half lead, largely built on a 10 baskets from beyond the 3-point line … the 52 first half points were the most allowed by the Aggies this season and the most allowed in the first half of an NCAA Tournament game in program history.
? A&M used the starting lineup combination of TJ Starks, Admon Gilder, DJ Hogg, Robert Williams and Tyler Davis for the 13th time this season (8-6).
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
? Junior Tyler Davis corralled eight rebounds against the Wolverines, bringing his career NCAA Tournament total to a Texas A&M program record 54 … the center finished with his personal NCAA tournament best 24 points on 11-for-17 shooting … the junior's 11 made field goals tied Bennie Lennox (vs Texas Western on 3/9/1964) for the most made field goals in a NCAA Tournament game in program history … Davis's 24 field goals in the 2018 bracket were the most by an Aggie in a single tournament, besting David Britton's 19 made field goals in 1980.
? Sophomore Robert Williams joined Davis in doubles figures as he scored 12 points on the night … the Oil City, La. native swatted a trio of Wolverine shot attempts and the forward finished the 2018 tournament with seven blocks to set the A&M record for blocks in an NCAA showing.
? Junior Admon Gilder registered his fifth career double-digit scoring effort in NCAA Tournament action, finishing with 10 points on 5-for-11 shooting.
? Junior DJ Hogg led the Aggies with five assists on the night, the seventh time this season that the Plano, Texas, has led the Aggies in assists in a game this season.
? Aggie head coach Billy Kennedy fell to 137-98 during his seven-year tenure at Texas A&M and 348-277 in 20 seasons as a head coach.
Next up the Wolverines will face either No. 4 Gonzaga or No. 9 Florida State who met in the second regional semifinal.
The Wolverines (31-7) dominated from start to finish, hitting 14 3-pointers -- 10 in the first half -- and extending their winning streak to 12 games.
Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman scored 24 points, Moe Wagner added 21 points and Charles Matthews had 18 points as third-seeded Michigan had five players in double figures.
"My shot went in early and it gives you the confidence to take the next one," Abdur-Rahkman said. "I think everyone had that confidence today."
Abdur-Rahkman made four 3-pointers and both of his free throws, and had five rebounds and seven assists.
"This senior right here played his tail off in every single way," Michigan coach John Beilein said. "This is like a great example of a great college basketball player that can play afterwards, too."
The Wolverines were good in the first half and even better in the second. The rout was on by halftime with Michigan leading 52-28 after shooting 57 percent from the floor. In the second half, the Wolverines improved to 68 percent from the floor.
"We are on a business trip, and we still have business to take of," Abdur-Rahkman said.
The Aggies (22-13) never made a run, going long stretches without a basket in the first half while Michigan was scoring on nearly every trip down the floor.
Tyler Davis led the seventh-seeded Aggies with 24 points.
Michigan won its second round game to reach the Sweet 16 on freshman Jordan Poole's long 3 at the buzzer against Houston.
Against the Aggies, Michigan led by 29 points after an 8-0 run near the end of the first half. The Wolverines averaged nine 3-pointers per game coming in and exceeded that by the break.
Michigan held the Aggies to 12-of-32 shooting from the floor by double-teaming A&M and getting hands in shooters' faces.
The Wolverines had 12 steals in the game, led by Zavier Simpson with six.
The Aggies committed 10 of their 14 turnovers in the first half, including five by T.J. Starks.
They improved to 57 percent shooting in the second half, but it didn't make any difference when the Aggies couldn't come close to reducing their deficit to single digits.
RECORDS / SERIES NOTES
? No. 7 seed Texas A&M's season came to an end after a 99-72 defeat to No. 3 seed Michigan in the Sweet 16 of the 2018 NCAA Tournament … the 2018 appearance marked the fifth Sweet 16 appearance for the Maroon & White (Sixth trip to the Round of 16).
? The Aggies fell to 0-2 all-time against the Wolverines, Michigan claimed the previous matchup between the two schools, 82-79, in Houston, Texas on Dec. 22, 1962.
TEXAS A&M IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
? With the defeat, the Aggies are 13-15 all-time in 14 appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
? A&M head coach Billy Kennedy is 5-4 as a head coach during four appearances in the NCAA Tournament … Kennedy's four victories in the NCAA Tournament at Texas A&M are the most by an Aggie head coach, passing former A&M coaches Shelby Metcalf, Billy Gillispie and Mark Turgeon (3).
TEAM NOTES
? Texas A&M shot 32-for-67 from the floor on the night, but were just 3-for-15 from the 3-point line against the Wolverines … conversely, Michigan was 14-for-24 from behind the arc, converting nine of their first 14 attempts from deep.
? The Aggies owned a 33-28 rebounding advantage on the night, their 26th time this season that the Maroon & White have outrebounded their opponent.
? Texas A&M outscored the Maize & Gold 56-46 in the paint.
? Michigan owned a 52-28 first half lead, largely built on a 10 baskets from beyond the 3-point line … the 52 first half points were the most allowed by the Aggies this season and the most allowed in the first half of an NCAA Tournament game in program history.
? A&M used the starting lineup combination of TJ Starks, Admon Gilder, DJ Hogg, Robert Williams and Tyler Davis for the 13th time this season (8-6).
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
? Junior Tyler Davis corralled eight rebounds against the Wolverines, bringing his career NCAA Tournament total to a Texas A&M program record 54 … the center finished with his personal NCAA tournament best 24 points on 11-for-17 shooting … the junior's 11 made field goals tied Bennie Lennox (vs Texas Western on 3/9/1964) for the most made field goals in a NCAA Tournament game in program history … Davis's 24 field goals in the 2018 bracket were the most by an Aggie in a single tournament, besting David Britton's 19 made field goals in 1980.
? Sophomore Robert Williams joined Davis in doubles figures as he scored 12 points on the night … the Oil City, La. native swatted a trio of Wolverine shot attempts and the forward finished the 2018 tournament with seven blocks to set the A&M record for blocks in an NCAA showing.
? Junior Admon Gilder registered his fifth career double-digit scoring effort in NCAA Tournament action, finishing with 10 points on 5-for-11 shooting.
? Junior DJ Hogg led the Aggies with five assists on the night, the seventh time this season that the Plano, Texas, has led the Aggies in assists in a game this season.
? Aggie head coach Billy Kennedy fell to 137-98 during his seven-year tenure at Texas A&M and 348-277 in 20 seasons as a head coach.
Players Mentioned
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