Aggies Drop Seesaw Affair to Missouri, 86-85

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – A Rashaun Agee spinning layup in the lane was blocked at the buzzer as the Texas A&M men's basketball team came up on the short end of an 86-85 outcome against the Missouri Tigers Wednesday inside Reed Arena.
 
The lead changed hands eight times in the last five minutes with the last swap coming on a dunk by the Tigers' Shawn Phillips Jr. to put the Missouri (17-7, 7-4 SEC) up 86-85 with 17 seconds remaining.
 
Zach Clemence powered Texas A&M's effort, scoring 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range. Rylan Griffen added 17 points, five rebounds and three assists. Agee tacked on 13 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two blocks.
Texas A&M (17-7, 7-4 SEC) had another strong night from beyond the arc, rattling in 15-of-33 (45.5%) from 3-point range with Griffen's 4-of-9 (44.4%) leading the way.

The Aggies had nine different players knock shots down from long range in the first half, hitting 11-of-17 (64.7%) beyond the arc en route to a 46-41 halftime lead. The 3-point field goal tally was one shy of the school record for a half set against South Carolina 18 days ago.

Griffen led the way for the Maroon & White in the opening act, draining 3-of-4 (75.0%) for 11 points. Texas A&M's distance shooting offset an 18-9 rebounding deficit. Neither team led by more than six points in the competitive first half.
 
Texas A&M built its largest lead, 57-50, when Clemence drained a 3-pointer at the 16:18 mark. Missouri responded with a 24-9 surge to go ahead 74-66 with eight minutes remaining. The Aggies bounced back with a 13-4 run with 3-pointers by Jacari Lane, Clemence and Griffen before a Marcus Hill layup put Ol' Sarge's charges up 79-78 with 4:57 showing on the clock. The teams traded buckets leading to the final attempt by Agee at the buzzer.
 
UP NEXT
The Aggies hit the road to close out the week, traveling to Nashville to take on No. 19 Vanderbilt at 12 p.m. Saturday on SEC Network. 
 
POSTGAME QUOTES
The postgame press conference with Texas A&M head coach Bucky McMillan can be found here, and interviews with graduates Rashaun Agee and Zach Clemence can be found here. 
 
POSTGAME NOTES
TEAM NOTES

• The Maroon & White finished the game shooting 50-percent from the field for the 10^th time this season. 
• The Maroon & White saw a season-high nine different players make a 3-pointer in the game. 
• Texas A&M saw its bench score 30-plus points for the 15^th game this season. 
• The Aggies had just nine turnovers in the game, marking the sixth time in the last seven games they have remained in single digits in the category.
• Texas A&M used the starting lineup of Marcus Hill, Jacari Lane, Rubén Dominguez, Rylan Griffen and Rashaun Agee for the 12th consecutive game and 12th time this season (8-4). 

 
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
#3 Rylan Griffen

• Recorded 17 points, scoring 15-plus points for the eighth time this season. 

 
#7 Zach Clemence

• Led the way with 20 points, marking the second 20-point game of his career. 
• Knocked down a career-high eight field goals. 
• Connected on three-or-more 3-pointers for the third time this season. 

 
#12 Rashaun Agee

• Scored 13 points marking the 12^th time in the last 13 games he scored in double digits.

 
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