Aggies Outlast LSU in SEC Opener, 75-72

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – The Texas A&M men's basketball team opened conference play with a victory, edging out LSU 75-72 Saturday evening at Reed Arena. 
 
The Aggies (11-3, 1-0 SEC) led for much of the second half, but eight straight points for LSU (12-2, 0-1 SEC) got the Tigers back within two and forced a Texas A&M timeout with just under seven minutes to play. LSU turned it into a 12-1 run over 3:37 to take its first lead of the half with 5:33 left in the game. 
 
Four straight points from Rashaun Agee put the game back in Texas A&M's favor, 68-66, with 2:05 on the clock. An Agee layup with 25 seconds remaining gave the Maroon & White a 71-68 lead and LSU was forced to foul in the closing seconds as the Aggies held on for the victory. 
 
Agee led the way with 15 points and 11 rebounds to register his sixth double-double of the season. Rubén Dominguez knocked down four 3-pointers en route to a 13-point performance, while Ali Dibba scored a season-best 12 points and Pop Isaacs chipped in 11 to round out the double-digit scorers for the Aggies. 
 
The two teams traded baskets to start the game, but back-to-back 3-pointers from Dominguez and Dibba, and a tip-in from Zach Clemence put the Maroon & White up 16-8 with 14:06 on the clock. 
 
Texas A&M remained in control for much of the half until LSU strung together a 14-4 run to go up 34-31 with 1:00 remaining in the half. The Aggies responded quickly as Rylan Griffen knocked down a 3-pointer to tie the game with 42 seconds on the clock and Dominguez struck again from long range as the final seconds ticked down to give the Maroon & White a 37-34 edge at the break. Texas A&M outrebounded the Tigers 22-14 in the first half, outscoring LSU 22-12 in the paint. 
 
Play remained tight to start the second half before back-to-back Dominguez 3's in a 23-second span forced an LSU timeout and put the Aggies up 47-40 with 15:22 on the clock. A three-point play from Marcus Hill made it nine-straight points for Texas A&M and got the difference to double digits for the first time on the night. 

UP NEXT
The Aggies hit the road, traveling to Auburn, Alabama, Tuesday for an 8 p.m. matchup with the Tigers on SEC Network.  
 
POSTGAME QUOTES
To hear from Texas A&M head coach Bucky McMillan, Ali Dibba and Rashaun Agee about the game, click here. 
 
POSTGAME NOTES
TEAM NOTES

• Texas A&M took the rebounding advantage 38-30 in the game after outrebounding the Tigers 22-14 in the first half. 
• The victory marked the fourth straight for the Aggies over the Tigers. 

• Texas A&M used the starting lineup of Marcus Hill, Jacari Lane, Rubén Dominguez, Rylan Griffen and Rashaun Agee for the second consecutive game and second time this season. 

 
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
#2 Pop Isaacs 

• Scored 11 points, shooting 4-for-9 (44.4%) from the field, marking his sixth game this season scoring double-digit points. 

#5 Jacari Lane 

• Grabbed a season-high five rebounds. 

#6 Ali Dibba

• Poured in nine first half points shooting 4-for-5 from the field to nearly match his season high of 10 in the first 20 minutes of play.
• Registered a new season high scoring 12 points and shooting 5-for-7 (71.4%) from the field, marking his fourth consecutive game shooting over 50-percent.

#9 Rubén Dominguez

• Registered double-digit points (13) for the 11th time this season.
• His four 3-pointers marked the fifth time this year he has made four-or-more 3's in a game. 

#12 Rashaun Agee

• Registered his sixth double-double of the year with 15 points and 11 rebounds, the most double-doubles in a season by an Aggie since Emanuel Miller had six in 2020-21.

 
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