Saturday, January 18
Bryan-College Station
7:30 PM
Texas A&M
vs
LSU
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F/C
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
Photo by: Craig Bisacre/Texas A&M Athletics
Aggies Seek to Snap Two-Game Streak Against Tigers on Saturday
Jan 17, 2025 | Men's Basketball
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – The No. 11 Texas A&M men's basketball team (13-4 overall, 2-2 vs. SEC) seeks to snap a two-game losing streak in a 7:30 p.m. matchup with SEC foe LSU (12-5, 1-3) on Saturday at Reed Arena.
STATISTICAL COMPARISON
NEED-TO-KNOWS
SEC SCORING: The Aggies' three SEC double-digit scorers after four league games are Zhuric Phelps (24.3), Pharrell Payne (15.8) and Hayden Hefner (10.0). The Aggies' top rebounders are Phelps (7.0), Solomon Washington (5.8), Henry Coleman III (4.8) and Payne (4.8). (Note: Wade Taylor IV also averages double-digits, but only played in the SEC opener)
Today's leading scorer in SEC games is Phelps.
In 2024-25, the Aggies have rallied from an 18-point hole on the road against No. 17 Oklahoma for an 80-78 win on 1/8 and from a 16-point deficit vs. Southern for a 71-54 win (11/20).
TIGHT GAMES ARE NORM: Similar to 2023-24, Texas A&M has already been involved in multiple games that were one-possession contests after the under-4:00 media timeout in the second half. The Aggies are 5-3 in those games. Dating back to last season, the Aggies have been involved in 24 one-score affairs after the final media timeout (13-11 record).
JUST WEIRD: For the first time since the start of the 2022-23 season, someone not named Wade Taylor IV is the Aggies' leading scorer. With three more games under his belt, Zhuric Phelps has taken over the scoring lead from WT4, 252-204.
LIMITING FGM: Texas A&M and Tennessee are the only SEC schools that haven't allowed more than 28 FGM in a game this season. The two teams are No. 1 and No. 2 among SEC schools in FGM defense at 20.5 (UT) and 21.8 (TAMU).
OFFENSIVE GLASS: Texas A&M pounds the offensive glass for a NCAA-best 16.7 offensive rebounds/G in 2024-25.
IN THEIR DNA: Fifteen SEC players have reeled in 40+ offensive rebounds - the Aggies have three of them (Coleman III, Washington, Payne).
EARNING TRIPS: Texas A&M has earned at least 20 trips to the FT line 13 times (10-3 record). The Aggies have earned 40+ FTA in three games, including 48 vs. Alabama on 1/11 which was the third-most in school history. The only two games with more FTA were vs. Pepperdine in 1954 and vs. Baylor in the triple-overtime game in 2008.
NOTING THE TRENDS
TV/RADIO
PROMOTIONS UPDATE FOR LSU:
- LSU holds a 29-21 lead in the overall series with Texas A&M, which began with a pair of games in the 1916-17 season.
- The Aggies have won three of the last four matchups, but the Tigers handed the M&W a 68-53 defeat the last time they visited Reed Arena in last year's SEC opener (1/6/24).
- Texas A&M is 3-7 vs. the Tigers under Buzz Williams (since 2019-20).
- Since the Aggies joined the SEC in 2012-13, they are 15-20 vs. LSU.
- HONORING 1975 SWC CHAMPS: Texas A&M will recognize the 50th anniversary of the 1975 Southwest Conference Champions, which were led by future Athletics Hall of Famers Barry Davis and Sonny Parker. Team captain Dr. John Thornton was inducted into A&M's Athletics Hall of Honor for his contributions and support of Texas A&M athletics programs as a coach and administrator in 2015.
STATISTICAL COMPARISON
| Statistic | LSU | LSU Opp. | Texas A&M | A&M Opp. |
| FGM | 28.5 | 24.9 | 26 | 21.8 |
| FGA | 60.4 | 63.7 | 60.6 | 55.6 |
| FG% | .471 | .392 | .429 | .392 |
| 3PM | 8.1 | 7.1 | 6.8 | 8.1 |
| 3PA | 25.2 | 22.6 | 22.3 | 26.1 |
| 3P% | .322 | .312 | .303 | .311 |
| FTM | 15.9 | 12.8 | 18.1 | 14.6 |
| FTA | 20.9 | 18.1 | 26.3 | 19.6 |
| FT% | .763 | .707 | .689 | .746 |
| Off. Reb | 11.8 | 13.5 | 16.7 | 11.1 |
| Def. Reb | 27.6 | 22 | 24.9 | 21.8 |
| Rebounds | 39.4 | 35.5 | 41.6 | 32.9 |
| Assists | 14.1 | 11.1 | 12.4 | 13.8 |
| Steals | 7.8 | 8.2 | 8.3 | 7.7 |
| Blocks | 5.5 | 3.2 | 4.5 | 4.9 |
| Turnovers | 13.7 | 12.8 | 11.9 | 14.7 |
| Points | 81 | 69.7 | 76.9 | 66.3 |
NEED-TO-KNOWS
SEC SCORING: The Aggies' three SEC double-digit scorers after four league games are Zhuric Phelps (24.3), Pharrell Payne (15.8) and Hayden Hefner (10.0). The Aggies' top rebounders are Phelps (7.0), Solomon Washington (5.8), Henry Coleman III (4.8) and Payne (4.8). (Note: Wade Taylor IV also averages double-digits, but only played in the SEC opener)
Today's leading scorer in SEC games is Phelps.
PAYNE GAIN: Since the start of December, Pharrel Payne is shooting an NCAA-best 84.4% (38-45) from the field (among players with at least 25 FGA). In SEC play, Payne is hitting 86.4% (19-22).
NO QUIT IN AGGIES: Under Buzz Williams, Texas A&M hoops has rallied from a 15-point or more deficit to at least a tie six times in the past two seasons, including twice already in 2024-25.In 2024-25, the Aggies have rallied from an 18-point hole on the road against No. 17 Oklahoma for an 80-78 win on 1/8 and from a 16-point deficit vs. Southern for a 71-54 win (11/20).
TIGHT GAMES ARE NORM: Similar to 2023-24, Texas A&M has already been involved in multiple games that were one-possession contests after the under-4:00 media timeout in the second half. The Aggies are 5-3 in those games. Dating back to last season, the Aggies have been involved in 24 one-score affairs after the final media timeout (13-11 record).
JUST WEIRD: For the first time since the start of the 2022-23 season, someone not named Wade Taylor IV is the Aggies' leading scorer. With three more games under his belt, Zhuric Phelps has taken over the scoring lead from WT4, 252-204.
LIMITING FGM: Texas A&M and Tennessee are the only SEC schools that haven't allowed more than 28 FGM in a game this season. The two teams are No. 1 and No. 2 among SEC schools in FGM defense at 20.5 (UT) and 21.8 (TAMU).
OFFENSIVE GLASS: Texas A&M pounds the offensive glass for a NCAA-best 16.7 offensive rebounds/G in 2024-25.
IN THEIR DNA: Fifteen SEC players have reeled in 40+ offensive rebounds - the Aggies have three of them (Coleman III, Washington, Payne).
EARNING TRIPS: Texas A&M has earned at least 20 trips to the FT line 13 times (10-3 record). The Aggies have earned 40+ FTA in three games, including 48 vs. Alabama on 1/11 which was the third-most in school history. The only two games with more FTA were vs. Pepperdine in 1954 and vs. Baylor in the triple-overtime game in 2008.
NOTING THE TRENDS
- Zhuric Phelps has reached double-digit points in eight straight games and 13 of 16 as an Aggie. He has 5+ rebounds in six straight games, including a season-high 10 vs. ACU (12/28).
- In four games without Wade Taylor IV, Phelps is averaging 22.3 points and has reached double digits in each game.
- Phelps has reached 20+ points in three straight games, including his career high of 34 at Oklahoma (1/8).
- Phelps' career high was the most points by an Aggie vs. an AP Top 25 team in a true road game since Jeff Overhouse scored 34 vs. No. 16 Oral Roberts in Tulsa on Dec. 23, 1972.
- Hayden Hefner has averaged 11.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists over his last six games, including 16 points and five rebounds vs. Alabama (1/11).
- Texas A&M has earned 40+ rebounds in 11 games, while just allowing 40+ opponent rebounds just three times. The Aggies rank No. 14 nationally in rebound margin at 8.7/G.
- However, the Aggies have been out-rebounded in each of the past two games (vs. Alabama, at Kentucky). It's the first time that the Aggies have been out-rebounded in back-to-back games since the last two games of the 2022-23 regular season.
- In SEC play, the Aggies average 9.0 turnovers while forcing 15.5./G. Texas A&M leads the SEC in turnover margin at +6.5 in league games.
- In four starts in place of Taylor, Manny Obaseki has averaged 7.8 points and 2.3 assists with an assist/turnover rate of 1.50.
- In his last 10 games, Minnesota transfer Pharrel Payne has hit 78.7% of his FGA while averaging 10.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks
- The Aggies have demonstrated uncommon depth this season: 11 players average at least 10 minutes of action, including five players with at least 20:00/G. Also, 10 players average at least 4.0 points/G and eight Aggies average 3.0+ rebounds/G.
TV/RADIO
- 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. It is also available on SiriusXM on channels: 160 or 192.
- The game will be broadcast on SEC Network with Lowell Galindo and Joe Kleine providing the description.
PROMOTIONS UPDATE FOR LSU:
- 1975 SWC Champions Retro Shirt Giveaway: Available at each entry point for the first 5,000 fans to the
game. - A&M Student Early Entry: The North AND South entry of Reed Arena will open at 6 p.m. for ANY A&M
student. All doors will open to all fans at 6:30 p.m. - Fan Zone (North Entry): Tent setup with TVs, music, games & more! For ALL fans starting at 6:30 p.m.
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