On Both Ends, Dennis is a Menace

On an evening in which Texas A&M played one of its most complete games of the season in a 69-56 victory over LSU, one of the top performances was by one of the team’s most complete players.

Graduate transfer Dexter Dennis paced the Maroon & White with season highs in points (17) and steals (3), adding six rebounds and an assist as the Aggies won their fourth in a row and started SEC play with a 2-0 ledger.

“He was in a really good mind frame on both sides of the ball,” A&M head coach Buzz Williams said.

Dennis gave the season-best crowd of 9,319 at Reed Arena a little bit of everything in the first half – from draining two early 3-pointers to throwing down a thunderous one-hand jam midway through the stanza. He even played a bit of defense while wearing just one shoe.

After making his second layup of the game an LSU player stepped on his shoe, causing it to come off as he turned to go down to the defensive end. Dennis and the Aggie defense were not fazed as he continued to guard while holding his shoe, and the Maroon & White got the defensive stop.

“I was hoping that nobody came and attacked me,” Dennis said. “They didn’t and I was thankful for that. I was exposed and would have gotten embarrassed.”

As the Aggies headed into the locker room with a 34-23 advantage, Dennis was nearing a season high in scoring with 15 points. In addition to the 3-pointers and dunk, he went up-and-under for a couple of layups, ending the half 5-of-6 from the field, including 2-of-3 from long range. 

“When he can make a three and have those finishes at the rim, he’s tough to defend,” Williams said. 

The five first-half field goals were more than Dennis made in the five previous games. He was slumping to the tune of 13.8% (4-of-29) from the field since registering his previous season-high 16 points against Oregon State on December 11.

The vibes Dennis was getting pregame didn’t lead him to believe Saturday would be the night he would break out of it.

“Truthfully, I felt terrible in warmups,” Dennis said. “I couldn’t really get my body going. I don’t even think I dunked it once in warmups.”

Even when Dennis doesn’t have it going on the offensive end, he is an invaluable contributor. The 2021-22 American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year had his tenacity on full display early in the second half. 

On their opening possession, the Aggies committed a sloppy turnover. Before LSU could grapple the momentum, Dennis hounded Tiger guard Cam Hayes in the backcourt, picked his pocket and dished a perfect pass to Julius Marble for the easy layup. The product of Baker, Louisiana, was at it again two minutes later, deflecting a crosscourt pass for a steal as the Maroon & White built a 15-point lead.

“Who he is without the ball is as good as we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Williams said. “Front of the press, guard the best player, keep the ball out of the paint – he just does so many things. And then when he makes shots, now all of a sudden, it’s like ‘whoa.’”

Following the lead of Dennis, Ol’ Sarge’s charges looked like they were playing with six players on the defensive end, limiting the Bayou Bengals to 34.7% (17-of-49) shooting from the field, including 29.6% (8-of-27) inside the 3-point arc. The persistent play allowed the Maroon & White to own a whopping 42-10 scoring advantage in the paint.

Although Dennis ended the contest with six rebounds, his head coach knows his influence on the boards was much greater as the Aggies owned a 38-27 edge on the glass.

“His impact is astronomical,” Williams said. “Tonight he had six, but he really had about 16. When he is so consistent in putting the pressure on the rim, now somebody has to block him out, so that gives more rebounds to Henry (Coleman), Julius (Marble), etc.”

The Tigers entered the game with expectations of Dennis playing stout defense, but found his contributions at the basket to be a difference in the outcome. 

“He’s been a (defensive) player of the year in his previous league,” LSU head coach Matt McMahon said. “He had not been shooting the ball well, but credit to him. He hits two 3s early and gets a couple straight-line drives where he got to the basket and finished. He had 15 in the first half to carry them on the offensive end along with (Wade) Taylor.”

Dennis and the Aggies look to craft another complete performance Wednesday night when they host the No. 20 Missouri Tigers at 7:30 p.m.