Aggies Face Missouri Tigers in SEC Road Matchup

Wednesday, February 7

Columbia, Mo.

8:00 PM

Texas A&M

Missouri

Photo by: Wesley Bowers/Texas A&M Athletics

Feb 06, 2024 | Men's Basketball

Game Notes at Missouri Coach Buzz Press Conference Obaseki Press Conference SEC Standings

By: Brad Marquardt, Assistant AD/Athletics Communications

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Texas A&M men's basketball team seeks to get above .500 in SEC play for the first time in 2023-24 when the Aggies take on Missouri in a 8 p.m. clash on Wednesday at the Mizzou Arena.

A victory would give the Aggies a sweep of the season series with the Tigers. Texas A&M beat the Tigers, 63-57, at Reed Arena on 1/23. Texas A&M holds a 25-20 advantage in the all-time series.
The two teams have played every year since the formation of the Big 12 in 1996-97 with the Aggies holding a 25-17 advantage. In SEC play, A&M leads 15-7.
In the Buzz Williams era, the Aggies are 6-2 vs. MU, including 3-0 at Mizzou Arena.

TV/RADIO INFORMATION

The game will be televised on ESPN2 with Tom Hart (play-by-play) and Dane Bradshaw (analyst) on the call.
The matchup airs on the Texas A&M Radio Network, locally on 1620 AM/94.5 FM or worldwide on the 12th Man Mobile App with Andrew Monaco and Dr. John Thornton describing the action.

TRENDS AND NOTABLES

Tyrece Radford has played no fewer than 29 minutes in SEC play and averages over 35 minutes vs. league opponents. His 10-of-16 shooting performance vs. Florida was his first above 50.0% effort since 11/23 vs. Penn State. He was injured in the following day vs. FAU and missed five of the next six games.
Texas A&M is 10-1 in games when Radford scores 20 or more points since his arrival in Aggieland in 2021-22. The Aggies are 18-5 when he scores 15 or more. The Aggies are undefeated (4-0) when he scores 25+.
Since taking an elbow to his upper body against Kentucky (1/13), Henry Coleman III has scored in double figures just once (10 vs. MU on 1/23) after hitting double digits in eight of 14 games prior to UK.
Manny Obaseki has missed his last 6 free throw attempts and 16 of his last 20 since 12/30. In the previous 70 games before 12/30, 'MO' hit 67.0% of his FTA, including 75.0% in 2022-23.
Jace Carter is averaging 7.2 rebounds/G in his past 10 games.
Since returning from an injury suffered on 12/30, Solomon Washington has averaged 25:30+ in the past six games. Prior to this streak, Solo had played 25+ minutes in just 3 of his first 44 career games.
SEC Sixth-Man of the Year candidate Andersson Garcia is the SEC's No. 2 rebounder at 8.5/G despite coming off the bench in 18-of-21 games. Among reserves, Garcia ranks No. 1 nationally in off. rebounds/G (3.9) and total rebounds/G (8.1) (min. 9 gms).
In SEC games only, Wade Taylor IV leads the SEC in steals/G (2.4) and 3-pointers/G (3.4) and ranks No. 2 with 23.3 points/game.
Perhaps the 6-foot Taylor IV's most impressive stat is his 4.3 defensive rebounds/game in SEC play. It is the highest average among any SEC player under 6-foot-4.
6-foot-3 guard Tyrece Radford's 3.3 offensive rebounds/G in SEC play rank No. 5 among all players and No. 1 among players under 6-foot-7. In fact, 'Boots' is the only player under 6-foot-7 in the top 15.
In SEC games, the Aggies lead the league in free throws made (17.6) and FTA (26.4). Sadly, however, the Aggies are converting just 66.8% of their FTAs in SEC play. A&M hit 77.9% in SEC play last year.

SUCCEEDING AMONG THE TREES:
The Aggies' guard tandem of Wade Taylor IV and Tyrece Radford are the only SEC players under 6-foot-4 averaging over 15.0 points/5.0 rebounds/G in SEC play.

Players w. 15.0+ Pts/5.0+ Rebs in SEC Play
(Sorted by Points/Game)

Player, School	Ht.	Pts./G	Rebs./G
Dalton Knecht, Tennessee	6' 6''	26.9	5.1
Wade Taylor IV, Texas A&M	6' 0''	23.3	5.1
Tramon Mark, Arkansas	6' 6''	19.0	5.1
Jordan Wright, LSU	6' 6''	17.0	6.0
Tolu Smith, Mississippi St.	6' 11''	17.0	7.4
Johni Broome, Auburn	6' 10''	15.6	8.9
Tyrece Radford, Texas A&M	6' 3''	15.5	6.4
Tyrin Lawrence, Vanderbilt	6' 4''	15.4	5.8

ON THE UPSWING?
The SEC's worst shooting team for the full season (.391) and in league play (.346), Texas A&M is averaging a modest 40.2 FG% over the past two games.
The Aggies' 40.7 FG% in their most recent game vs. Florida was the team's highest since connecting on 47.8% of its shots against FAU on 11/24.

GETTING TO THE LINE
Last season's national leaders in free throws made/G has slowly crept into the top 20 nationally and currently stand No. 16 among DI teams (24.3/G).
In non-conference play, the Aggies were tied for No. 49 nationally (23.1/G)

THIN MARGINS IN SEC PLAY
The margin has been thin for the Aggies in SEC play in 2024 with seven of eight contests being tied or a one-possession game under 4:00 ATO.

Texas A&M in SEC Games in 2024

Opponent (Date)	Score	Time	Result
Florida (2/3)	A&M led 67-66	:35	W, 67-66
Ole Miss (1/27)	62-62 tie	:46	L, 68-71
Missouri (1/23)	A&M led 56-53	3:21	W, 63-57
at LSU (1/20)	A&M led 70-69	1:04	W, 73-69
at Arkansas (1/16)	A&M led 77-76	:07	L, 77-78
Kentucky (1/13)	89-89 tie	0:00	W, 97-92 ot
at Auburn (1/9)	AU led 56-54	2:54	L, 55-66

SCORING PUNCH AT GUARD
Texas A&M's guard tandem of Wade Taylor IV and Tyrece Radford averages 38.8 points in SEC play, making them the No. 2 guard scoring tandem through Feb. 6.

SEC Guard Scoring Tandems

Players, School	G	Pts.	Avg.
Knecht/Zeigler, Tennessee	8	329	41.1
Taylor IV/Radford, Texas A&M	8	310	38.8
Reeves/Dillingham, Kentucky	9	315	35.0
Sears/Griffen, Alabama	9	307	34.1
Clayton Jr./Pullin, Florida	9	304	33.8

HISTORY OF MAKING SHOTS
Among active guards with 1,000+ FGA, Tyrece Radford's career FG% of .470 ranks No. 3 nationally.

Radford's 62.5 FG% last Saturday vs. UF (10-of-16) was the highest of career at Texas A&M and Virginia Tech when taking more than 13 shots.

Most Accurate Active DI Guards
(Minimum of 1,000 career FGA)

Player, School	FG-FGA	FG%.
Tanner Holden, Wright St.	691-1295	.534
RayJ Dennis, Baylor	684-1441	.475
*Tyrece Radford, Texas A&M	603-1282	.470
Dalton Knecht, Tennessee	483-1029	.469
Isaiah Stevens, Colorado St.	769-1642	.468