Texas A&M
8-10
Kansas State
15-5
Mitchell Rallies Texas A&M to 65-53 Win Over Kansas State
Jan 26, 2019 | Men's Basketball
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) -- Wendell Mitchell scored a game-high 22 points, all in the second half, and Texas A&M ran past Kansas State 65-53 on Saturday in the annual Big 12/SEC Challenge.
The Wildcats (15-5) led 30-26 at halftime before the Aggies (8-10), in snapping a three-game losing streak, outscored their former Big 12 brethren 39-23 over the final 20 minutes. A&M relied on an 18-3 run in the second half to put away the Wildcats.
Mitchell, who started his college career at Baylor of the Big 12, made 7 of 9 shots in the second half, and 7 of 12 overall. Dean Wade led the Wildcats with 17 points and the Aggies' Savion Flagg led all rebounders with 12.
The Wildcats held a 16-14 advantage in points in the paint in the first half, but the Aggies wound up with a 32-20 edge in that category. A&M exited the Big 12 and entered the SEC in the summer of 2012.
Chalk up the W??
— Texas A&M Basketball (@aggiembk) January 26, 2019
Ags do their part in the #SECBig12 Challenge!
Back in action at home Wednesday vs LSU.
??? https://t.co/9FtIzT8g1V#GigEm pic.twitter.com/DGYcYdRG6I
Chuck put the team on his back doe!
— Texas A&M Basketball (@aggiembk) January 26, 2019
His 2??2?? 2nd half points led the way in today's victory.
Watch him go to work ??#GigEm pic.twitter.com/BBSnLzO7m5
Let's gooooo! @aggiembk grabs our first win of the day. #SECBig12 pic.twitter.com/6EjB2jQmpb
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) January 26, 2019
The #12thMan was in full support for the big @aggiembk win! ??#SECBig12 #GigEm pic.twitter.com/CU5TRooBOz
— Texas A&M Athletics (@12thMan) January 26, 2019
"...anything I can do to help my team win..."@__hvmble talks his 11 pt, 12 reb dbl-dbl & reflects on the win.#GigEm pic.twitter.com/GrMUxMwyvh
— Texas A&M Basketball (@aggiembk) January 26, 2019
Texas A&M Basketball Postgame Notes
Texas A&M Kansas State
Reed Arena (College Station, Texas)
ABOUT THE GAME
- Texas A&M moved to 8-10 on the season, after downing Kansas State, 65-53, Saturday afternoon at Reed Arena. Junior Wendell Mitchell led the Aggies for the second straight game, finishing with 22 points.
- Kansas State used a 12-2 run late in the first half to go up eight and force the Aggies to use a timeout before the final media of the opening period.
- A&M was able to cut the difference to four at the break, 30-26.
- After a three by the Wildcats to open the second half, A&M went on an 18-3 run to regain the lead. Mitchell, who didn't score in the first half, put up 12 in the run.
- Kansas State made it a three-point game with under seven minutes to play, but seven straight points by the Aggies put the lead into double figures, where it would stay for nearly the rest of the game.
- A&M gave the SEC its first win of this year's SEC/Big 12 Challenge and is now 2-3 all-time in the event.
- Junior Wendell Mitchell was one point shy of outscoring Kansas State on his own in the second half, as the Aggies held the Wildcats to just 23 points in the final period, while putting up 39 points of their own.
- A&M shot 51.0-percent from the field against the Wildcats, shooting over 50-percent in a game for the third time this season.
- The Aggies dominated in the paint, out-scoring Kansas State 32-20 down low.
- With Jay Jay Chandler out after getting banged up at Florida, the Aggies used the starting lineup of, TJ Starks, Wendell Mitchell, Brandon Mahan, Savion Flagg and Christian Mekowulu for the third time this season (2-1).
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Junior Wendell Mitchell made it back-to-back 20-plus point games as he again led the way with 22 points, all coming in the second half.
- Sophomore Savion Flagg recorded his third double-double of the season, finishing with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
- Sophomore TJ Starks made it back-to-back games in double figures as he added 12 points, to go along with six assists.
- Billy Kennedy is now 145-108 in his eight-year tenure at Texas A&M and 356-287 in his 21 seasons as a head coach.
UP NEXT
The Aggies remain at home next week, hosting LSU on Wednesday, Jan. 30 at Reed Arena. Tip is set for 8 p.m. Tickets are available here.
POSTGAME QUOTES
Texas A&M Head Coach Billy Kennedy
Opening Statement…
"Obviously it was a great win for us against a talented Kansas State team. I am really proud of our guys for hanging in there. We pushed through some challenges and had the right focus. We had a good performance today."
On Wendell Mitchell's performance today…
"We needed someone to step up and have a special performance in the second half. I know he didn't play much the first half, but he carried us in the second half so we could outscore them 39-23. He almost outscored Kansas State himself, and that was a special performance."
On the contribution of Mark French and Chris Collins…
"Mark French and Chris Collins did an amazing job in the first half. They were playing hard and they got some deflections. They were a big support and force for us in the first half."
On playing tonight for Autism Speaks…
"Darby [Rich] is special to our program along with his family and Case. Our guys have great relationships with all of them. Our program is based on family and faith. God blessed us today and we got a win."
Junior Guard Wendell Mitchell
On a big second half performance…
"I was keeping my energy up on the bench in the first half, staying engaged with my teammates and just trying to be effective in any way possible. I just try to come in and be solid, do all the things that the coaches preach to us."
On the play of Mark French and Chris Collins …
"We have got confidence in all our teammates, I feel like they can do all the things that we do. They came in and kept the energy high and played their hardest; that is the biggest thing. They had really big effort and that was the difference-maker honestly."
Sophomore Guard/Forward Savion Flagg
On motivating factors behind tonight's game…
"The Autism Speaks part of it. Winning this one for Darby [Rich] and his family. Just trying to win this one for Case [Rich], he's always around the team and he's like a little brother to all of us."
On the impact of the crowd …
"It's just good hearing our crowd be involved, letting us know that they are behind us. It's been a kind of an up-and-down season, and it is just good to know they are still here behind us."
