Friday, December 22
Bryan-College Station
7:00 PM
Texas A&M
8-4,0-0SEC
79
vs
52
HCU
2-9,0-0Southland
1
2
F
Houston Christian
21
31
52
Texas A&M
40
39
79
Photo by: Craig Bisacre/Texas A&M Athletics
Career Nights from Hefner, Garcia Power Aggies Past Huskies
Dec 22, 2023 | Men's Basketball
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas --- Hayden Hefner poured in a career-high 24 points and Andersson Garcia pulled down a career-best 19 rebounds to power the Texas A&M men's basketball team past the HCU Huskies 79-52 in front of a Fan Appreciation Game crowd of 5,475 on Friday at Reed Arena.
The 27-point victory snapped a two-game losing streak as the Aggies improved to 8-4, while HCU fell to 2-9.
Hefner, from Nederland, Texas, connected on 7-of-14 shots, including 3-of-8 from beyond the arc and 7-of-8 free throw attempts. Garcia, a senior from Moca, Dominican Republic, logged career highs in four statistical categories with nine offensive rebounds, 19 total rebounds, four assists and two blocks. It was the most rebounds by an Aggie since 1990 when David Harris pulled down 19 boards against the Rice Owls. Joining the career high party were sophomore forward Solomon Washington with five assists and junior guard Jace Carter with 12 rebounds.
Also logging double-digit points were Carter and Wade Taylor IV with 10 points. Nine Aggies scored at least four points as the team logged its 11th game with 70 or more points in 12 contests.
A lackluster shooting night was offset by the Aggies' ability to get to the free throw line and superior offensive rebounding. The Maroon & White hit 28-of-38 shots from the charity stripe, which was a season high for both free throws made and attempted. The Aggies entered the game as the nation's top offensive rebounding team and posted 22 against the Huskies. It was the team's third game with 20-plus offensive boards this season.
The Aggies were in single digits in turnovers for the fifth time this season with seven while forcing 18 that were converted into 25 points. Texas A&M had a double-digit advantage in total rebounds, pulling in 49 caroms which was the second-most this season.
The Aggies took a commanding 40-21 lead into halftime on the strength of 13 points by Hefner and seven rebounds from Garcia. The two teams were separated just four points at the 6:00 mark, but the Aggies out-scored Huskies 18-3 for the remainder of the half, including the final nine points of the half.
GAME NOTES:
HEFNER HEATS UP: Hayden Hefner led the Aggies scoring with a career-high 24 points, eclipsing his previous best of 19 against Texas A&M-Commerce on opening night.
BETTER TO GIVE: Solomon Washington tabbed a career high in assists with a game-high of five after entering the game having never dished out more than two assists in his previous 42 games in Aggieland.
DOMINICAN RODMAN: In his first start of the season, Andersson Garcia racked up a career-best 19 rebounds, nine of those swiped off the offensive glass. This is the most by an Aggie since Feb. 24, 1990, when David Harris grabbed 19 against Rice. Garcia grabbed the most offensive boards of his career while tying his career-bests in assists (4) and blocks (2).
DOUBLE-DOUBLE: Jace Carter registered his first double-double this season with 10 points and his career-high of 12 rebounds. Carter is the second Aggie to record a double-double this season.
MILESTONE MAKES: Wade Taylor IV hit four free throws to reach 300 in his career. He is the 18th player to reach this milestone and the eighth since 2000.
Postgame Quotes
Head Coach Buzz Williams
On Garcia's impact...
"It was his first start of the season and I think he's the Dominican Dennis Rodman. I think he's unbelievable. I think he impacts the game without the ball more than any player I've coached."
Senior Guard Hayden Hefner
On running new lineups...
"I think it was mostly chemistry on the fly. We didn't really practice some of those lineups and we knew going into the game that we were going to have to work on seeing who can play with who and who's going to be mature enough to do their job. I think we did a good job of maintaining our composure through the game."
Senior Forward Andersson Garcia
On learning from a win...
"We just try to do the same things every game. Even though we won the game we can still learn. There are things that we can fix and do better in the next game."
The 27-point victory snapped a two-game losing streak as the Aggies improved to 8-4, while HCU fell to 2-9.
Hefner, from Nederland, Texas, connected on 7-of-14 shots, including 3-of-8 from beyond the arc and 7-of-8 free throw attempts. Garcia, a senior from Moca, Dominican Republic, logged career highs in four statistical categories with nine offensive rebounds, 19 total rebounds, four assists and two blocks. It was the most rebounds by an Aggie since 1990 when David Harris pulled down 19 boards against the Rice Owls. Joining the career high party were sophomore forward Solomon Washington with five assists and junior guard Jace Carter with 12 rebounds.
Also logging double-digit points were Carter and Wade Taylor IV with 10 points. Nine Aggies scored at least four points as the team logged its 11th game with 70 or more points in 12 contests.
A lackluster shooting night was offset by the Aggies' ability to get to the free throw line and superior offensive rebounding. The Maroon & White hit 28-of-38 shots from the charity stripe, which was a season high for both free throws made and attempted. The Aggies entered the game as the nation's top offensive rebounding team and posted 22 against the Huskies. It was the team's third game with 20-plus offensive boards this season.
The Aggies were in single digits in turnovers for the fifth time this season with seven while forcing 18 that were converted into 25 points. Texas A&M had a double-digit advantage in total rebounds, pulling in 49 caroms which was the second-most this season.
The Aggies took a commanding 40-21 lead into halftime on the strength of 13 points by Hefner and seven rebounds from Garcia. The two teams were separated just four points at the 6:00 mark, but the Aggies out-scored Huskies 18-3 for the remainder of the half, including the final nine points of the half.
GAME NOTES:
HEFNER HEATS UP: Hayden Hefner led the Aggies scoring with a career-high 24 points, eclipsing his previous best of 19 against Texas A&M-Commerce on opening night.
BETTER TO GIVE: Solomon Washington tabbed a career high in assists with a game-high of five after entering the game having never dished out more than two assists in his previous 42 games in Aggieland.
DOMINICAN RODMAN: In his first start of the season, Andersson Garcia racked up a career-best 19 rebounds, nine of those swiped off the offensive glass. This is the most by an Aggie since Feb. 24, 1990, when David Harris grabbed 19 against Rice. Garcia grabbed the most offensive boards of his career while tying his career-bests in assists (4) and blocks (2).
DOUBLE-DOUBLE: Jace Carter registered his first double-double this season with 10 points and his career-high of 12 rebounds. Carter is the second Aggie to record a double-double this season.
MILESTONE MAKES: Wade Taylor IV hit four free throws to reach 300 in his career. He is the 18th player to reach this milestone and the eighth since 2000.
Postgame Quotes
Head Coach Buzz Williams
On Garcia's impact...
"It was his first start of the season and I think he's the Dominican Dennis Rodman. I think he's unbelievable. I think he impacts the game without the ball more than any player I've coached."
Senior Guard Hayden Hefner
On running new lineups...
"I think it was mostly chemistry on the fly. We didn't really practice some of those lineups and we knew going into the game that we were going to have to work on seeing who can play with who and who's going to be mature enough to do their job. I think we did a good job of maintaining our composure through the game."
Senior Forward Andersson Garcia
On learning from a win...
"We just try to do the same things every game. Even though we won the game we can still learn. There are things that we can fix and do better in the next game."
Team Stats
HCU
TA&M
FG%
.333
.344
3FG%
.261
.259
FT%
.632
.737
RB
35
49
TO
18
7
STL
3
8
Game Leaders
Pts
24
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
7
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballNorthwestern State Postgame: Bucky McMillan
Monday, November 03
Northwestern State Postgame: Rashaun Agee, Ruben Dominguez
Monday, November 03
Highlights: Texas A&M 98, NWST 68
Monday, November 03
Media Availability: Bucky McMillan
Wednesday, October 29
