Texas A&M
9-8 (3-3)
Missouri
9-9 (1-5)
Aggies Topple Mizzou, 66-64
Jan 21, 2020 | Men's Basketball
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) For a struggling Missouri men's basketball team, even an NCAA record-breaking night wasn't enough for a win.
After sinking 31 straight free throws in its weekend loss to Alabama, the Tigers (9-9, 1-5 Southeastern Conference) continued their streak with 23 foul shots in a row against Texas A&M on Tuesday night. The 54 consecutive free throws broke the NCAA record of 50 set by Wake Forest in 2005.
But it wasn't enough - Josh Nebo and his 14 points overpowered a sloppy Missouri team to a 66-64 Aggies' win.
The Tigers led 32-27 after a first half filled with sloppy passes and consistent free throws. Texas A&M (9-8, 3-3 SEC) led for much of the second half, but Missouri came within two points of tying it in the last minute of the game.
Nebo's fifth foul sent Missouri's Mitchell Smith to the free throw line, but he missed his second shot, keeping the Aggies ahead by one point. The teams traded trips to the free throw line, then Missouri guard Torrence Watson missed a 3 at the buzzer to cement the Tigers' loss.
Missouri limited Nebo to five points in the first half, but the 6-foot-9-inch center dominated under the basket in the second half. With Missouri center Jeremiah Tilmon out with a foot injury, the Tigers rotated between Mitchell Smith and Reed Nikko.
The Aggies' offense was spread out over Nebo, Savion Flagg and Emanuel Miller. With six 3s made, Texas A&M averaged 35% from beyond the arc, significantly higher than its team percentage of 25%.
Mark Smith led Missouri's offense with 19 points, including 15 from beyond the arc. Dru Smith scored 18 points and Torrence Watson added 11. Watson had averaged 4.8 points per game before Tuesday.
Texas A&M Men's Basketball Postgame Notes
Texas A&M 66, Missouri 64
Mizzou Arena (Columbia, Missouri)
RECORDS & SERIES NOTES
· Texas A&M defeated Missouri, 66-64, Tuesday night at Mizzou Arena to move to 9-8 (3-3 SEC) on the year.
· The Aggies lead the overall series against Mizzou, 20-18.
· Texas A&M has now won nine of the last 11 meetings against the Tigers.
TEAM NOTES
- Texas A&M erased a five-point halftime deficit and took a 46-40 lead with a 7-0 run that stretched 3:01 (13:32-10:31) in the second half.
- The Aggie defense held the Tigers to 25.7% from beyond the arc, the eighth game this season an opponent has shot 26% or lower from three.
- The Maroon & White doubled up Missouri, 20-10, in the paint and has outscored every conference opponent thus far.
- Texas A&M used the starting lineup combination of Savion Flagg, Wendell Mitchell, Emanuel Miller, Andre Gordon, and Josh Nebo for the seventh time this season (4-3).
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
· Savion Flagg and Josh Nebo led the team in scoring with 14 points apiece.
· Nebo has scored in double figures 13 this season while Flagg has had 10-or-more points in nine games.
· Emanuel Miller tallied 12 points, the most he has had in Southeastern Conference action.
· Zach Walker made a two-point jumper with 12:55 left in the second half, the first two points he has scored in his career.
· Yavuz Gultekin recorded his first three-pointer of the season.
· Buzz Williams is 9-8 in his first season at Texas A&M and 262-163 in his 13 seasons as a head coach.
UP NEXT
The Aggies return to Reed Arena on Saturday as they face off against Oklahoma State in the Big 12/SEC Challenge at 3 p.m.
